Original subtitles

TEARS OF STONE

Ladies and gentlemen we thank Mrs. Annie Leifs

for her splendid recital.

We have heard works by three Nordic composers,

one Danish, one German and finally, one Icelandic.

All played magnificently by this young virtuoso.

And now we'll change the consert hall iinto a ballroom.

Will the musicians please take their seats on the bandstand.

Isn't he going to introduce me?

Annie..

Ernst Zuchner?

What are you doing here?

This is my husband, Jon Leifs, conductor and composer.

From now on, composer and conducter.

From Iceland.

Ernst Zuchner. We know each other from way back.

Are you involved in music? - Im afraid not.

Pleased to meet you.

You're not only married to the prettiest lady in Berlin,

but a great pianist as well.

Annie, let me introduce you to some friends from Vienna,

all important music lovers.

Magnificent..

Mr. Leifs, congratulations. - Thank you..thank you.

...Serious music is the common language

of all European culture,

but the composers of pure, noble music

must protect not only the purity of their art

but also their professional interests.

A new council of European composers is in the making

and this council will, in the near future...

Only madmen walk around with pebbles

in their tail-coat pockets...

...and Icelandic geniuses.

Your are homesick.

My sweetest madman.

No Vittorio, I must have them performed now.

It cant wait.

You are young and impatient. I understand.

But you must also think of practical things.

Like food for the family.

With Mrs. Leifs pregnant and not giving any concerts...

I don't want to conduct the old masters forever.

There are many hundred works in my head

just waiting to be written... now!

You can manage a few years, can't you?

Many orchestras have asked for you.

I don't have time for that.

Goodbye.

Mom!

Snot...

Mr. Leifs, you haven't touched your food.

A boy?

Is it a boy?

A girl. Just like I wanted.

Shhh...Daddy needs to work.

I also need some peace to practice.

Especially with you refusing to take any conducting jobs.

You know...in her first piano lesson

she couldn't even reach the pedals with her feet.

Sure she could. - Well by sliding from the chair.

But she insisted on learning "Fur Elise" xxxxx

before she went home.

Have you seen the fantastic reviews of Jon's consert?

Yes, of course.

Do you remember that, annie? "Far Elise”

That poor teacher. He had no choice...

but to teach her the damned tune.

Took him all day, of course. - That's not true.

And now she's giving a concert in Berlin.

My...your daughter.

Isn't that something?

Grandpal!

Wouldn't you all like some more cakes? - I would.

She knows what she wants, just like her mother.

Im going to make some more lemonade.

Snot, dear, come and give me a hand.

Annie is delighted with the grand piano.

It was most generous of you.

You know...

...it's good to be able to help.

I don't know how long I will be able to.

If this damned Nazi propaganda continues...who knows?

Do the trolls live in rocks like these?

Yes.

Daddy, I want to go to Iceland and see the elves and trolls.

One day you will.

When daddy's a famous composer,

and we live in a big white house

with a pond in front, then we go to Iceland on a huge ship.

When will you get famous, daddy?

Go to sleep now.

Be thou all things around, above

And thy eternal blessing shed.

All thy angels filled with love

Guard with light and joy my bed

God keep mom and dad and me and Snét

and Grandpa and Grandma and also Grandma Leifs in Iceland

and all the elf children and troll children. Amen.

Dad...

...is mom famous?

Mr. Leifs, unfortunately Mr. Hoffmann is not here.

He's gone to Florence.

But Mr. Krétschl is here.

Everything is on the right track, I'd say.

Four concerts ahead of you... plus the radio-recordings.

Wittorio and I were going to discuss

the publishing of my works.

I see...

Publishing is very risky you know,

no matter how good the works are.

Iceland Overture...

Trilogia Piccola...

Icelandic Dances...

That's quite a few pieces.

I'm prepared to put a fair sum of my own money into this.

Its good thing to know someone with money.

What do you mean?

Your father-in-law, of course.

This money comes out of my own pocket

and from a few generous people in Iceland. - Iceland, yes...

There's a great deal of interest

in everything Nordic at the moment.

Vikings, so pure, fair, Aryan...

There is one thing you really schould consider...

...The Composers' Council.

I doubt if that's an organization

for truly modern composers.

All the major composers of Europe will be part of it.

You could be Iceland's representative.

It would guarantee numerous radio broadcasts.

These four upcoming concerts...

I will of course conduct some of my own works.

You can't make demands like that.

This is not a demand but a condition.

That's impossible, Mr. Leifs.

I absolutely refuse to conduct those orchestras

unless they play at least one of my own works.

Then just give me what you owe me now. Im leaving.

There's not a lot here for you.

THE RADIO BUILDING

Dad? - Yes.

Why do you always have this stone in your porcket?

This is a magic stone.

You know that if the sun shines on trolls they turn to stone.

Once upon a time...

...there was a troll child,

who lived in a large cave with his mom and dad.

He used to sit at the mouth of the cave

and watch the human and elfin kids playing in the sun.

He heard them talk about how beyond mountains,

the world was big and magnificient.

And one night, he sneaked away from home

to see what was behind the mountains.

Because he was a troll child he could take immense strides.

But yet he had to walk for a long time.

And when he reached the top of the last mountain

the sun was just about to come up.

He could see the whole world bathing in the dew drops.

He had never seen anything so beautiful.

He looked at the splendor before him for a long time.

Then he remembered that he had to hurry home

before sunrise

so he started running back as fast as he could.

But at dawn, a thick fog rolled in over the mountains

and the poor little troll lost his way.

He ran and ran and the sky above the fog

became brighter and brighter.

Finally, he caught a glimpse of his mountain through the fog.

But the mouth of the cave was already bathed in sunlight

and he realized that he would never get back home.

He saw that the children and the elves

were already out playing.

And at that very moment, he felt the warmth

of the first rays of the sun on his head.

And then he turned to stone.

But just before that happened,

one single tear ran down his cheek

and when the sunlight touched it as it fell on the ground

it, too, turned to stone...

...and this is that stone.

My father found it

and he told me that all the little troll's longing

to get back home to his mom and dad in the cave

was contained in this single stone tear.

That's why whoever carries this stone

will always be able to find his way home.

And now we're home.

Well, I really must be off,

otherwise there'll be all sorts of trouble.

Look at me, mom. - What the..

Stop it.

Goodbye Annie.

What did he want? - Nothing special.

He said he just happened to be in the neighbourhood.

He left his card.

Department manager...

How does he know where we live?

It's even quite well paid.

He has found an apartment for us.

See how fat he's gotten.

It's really sweet of him to offer you this job.

He's getting an orchestra together.

I could record my music.

Daddy, look! The sea is full of water.

I haven't heard you practice this for a while.

What do you mean?

Im playing your piano pieces at the Berlin concert.

Really?

How generous of you.

What's the matter with you?

Lif! Lif!

Where is Lif? - Isn't she with you?

Lifisn't here. What happened?

They smashed all the windows and everybody ran outside..

Where is your sister? - I don't know.

I couldn't find her and then everybody just left...

Left where? What happened?

Where are the children?

I don't know.

Lif!

Lif.

Daddy.

THE RADIO BUILDING

It's not safe here anymore.

I can't possibly go to Iceland.

I have commitments here.

What about Berlin?

I would have to cancel the Berlin concert.

I'll go to my parents.

You can leave.

Annie...

...maybe it would be better for us...

...if I would join this new Composers' Council.

It's safer...for the family.

My works would get performed on the radio all over Germany.

It's called supporting the family...

...earning a living.

It's a Nazi organisation.

You realize this is an extraordinary advance.

You know what you have to do.

Mr. Leifs, what a pleasure to see you here!

THE COMPOSERS' COUNCIL

It seems that composers can actually make some money.

That's not for your music.

It's an advance for several radio recordings and broadcast.

Its for your conscience.

I didn't sign anything.

I simply attended, representing Iceland.

It can make a big difference for..us.

You made a choice. There's no compromise.

It's a matter of having a chance

to get somewhere with my music. It's that simple.

No, it isn't.

Which hand? - This one.

Daddy.

That one then.

Are you playing a trick on me?

That's the sky. This is the mountain.

Here's the little troll...

...and this is his tear.

What a beautiful picture! - You can keep it.

I gave daddy my picture. - That's nice, dear.

I want to go with you to Iceland.

You will, one day.

Goodbye love, and thank you for that beautiful picture.

We had better leave.

Take care of your little sister now.

And who is taking care of you?

How long are we going to stay with grandpa and grandma?

I'm worried about you.

This unrest will blow over soon.

It's only for a few months.

See you soon, my darling Jon.

Don't worry. Just miss me.

A little early for love letters, isn't it?

No..no...no

...this is not what we discussed.

There is no threat in the way you play it.

It's a piece about dark forces,

frightening and spellbinding at he same time.

Like fortissimo? - Let's play it again.

And this time let me feel the earth trembling.

It says here clearly staccato...

...not legato.

You don't listen.

I don't want to scold you like children.

But please concentrate on what you're doing.

Hey, Jon...l was not aware that we were on first name basis.

Weel, no. You see, I was just wondering

whether it would'nt be better, in the nineteenth bar,

if I went down to "d" instead of "d sharp".

I mean, it would sound...

It is a bit difficult interval...and I...

What is your name?

Borkur Haflidason. I work in the bank over at ...

Borkur, if you didn't own the only French horn in the country

I'd advise you to stick to counting money.

Isn't it possible to simplify it a bit?

Those who read music...

...once more from the fourteenth bar.

"Those who read music."

Isn't that pushing it a little to far?

These men are playing purely out of enthusiasm.

They receive no pay at all.

You must communicate with them at a level they can understand.

Don't you ever show them anything new?

Jon, you can't make the same demands here as in Germany.

You should be happy to get them to play this stuff at all.

Excuse me, but some news just came in from Germany.

It's the Nazis. They arrested thousands of Jews last night.

They just burst into their homes,

demolishing everything and setting fire to it all.

I thought you might want to know...

L-E-I-F-S.

Not Laifs.. Leifs...

...at Riethofs, 3945

or Rehbrucke, 4792.

Yes, thank you.

Try one more time, please.

Yes, thank you.

Where's the concertmaster?

You blow into the narrow end.

We're just not ready for music that's so...

...alien. - We?

Since when did you become one of them?

You must take the circumstances into account. Face reality.

It's called "growing up".

You know as well as I do, Pall, that the only thing

that makes my music alien, is that it's new.

This is what we dreamed about.

New music, new age, new Iceland...

You have obviously forgotten all about that.

Leifs.

Riethof...Riethof! Yes.

Why aren't you with your parents?

They took everything...

...Ltheir house... everything.

They're hiding at friends' houses.

Where are the girls? - Frieda is picking them up.

I tried to call you.

I'm not allowed to play anymore.

What about the concert... in Berlin?

Daddy! - Mr. Leifs.

Where's mom? - She's upstairs.

You have no idea how glad I am to be with you again.

These are from your Grandma...

Why were you at school so late?

We have a new school now at Mrs. Weiss' house.

They closed down the old school.

Don't! You mustn't open the curtains.

Mom doesn't want them open.

Nonsense.

They have to be closed!

"Be thou all things around above

And thy eternal blessing shed.

All thy angels filled with love

Guard with light and joy my bed."

You must never leave me again, dad.

You promise?

I promise.

Good night.

Why?

I would never touch that money. - What have you been living on?

Dad helped us. - Ziichner brought us food and things.

Ziichner?

So he's been a regular guest at the house while I was away?

We have to eat.

What did he get in return?

What do you take me for? Who do you think I am?

Maybe this is him with some champagne and caviar?

We're on the run.

We have been hiding for days, like some criminals.

You're welcome to stay here.

No, we'll try to get to Switzerland.

We can't stay in this country any longer.

You too must get out, as soon as possible.

We're all Icelandic citizens, that should...

Your daughters are Jews as well.

Jon, you are as Aryan as they come.

Make use of that and try to get you and your family

out of here, before it's too late.

Come on dear, we must be on our way.

THROW THE JEWS OUT

Mr. Leifs. Glad to see you.

I have very good news for you.

I read in the papers that you attended the first meeting

of the Composers' Council.

Excellent.

One has to choose, Mr. Leifs.

I suppose I have some money here, for the broadcasts.

No. -But they were already on the program.

You told me...

You said the key word Mr. Leifs, "were"...

...but "are" no longer.

You have to be very careful, Mr. Leifs.

One must be abreast of the times.

Not everybody at the radio station is happy with you.

But what can they possibly have against me?

I'm certainly Aryan enough.

Yes you are...

...out not your family.

My family? What's my family got to do with it?

But never mind.

I told you, I have good news.

A concert in Potsdam, conducting your own works...

...and nothing else.

Mr. Leifs, we're collecting signatures

to petition the Mayor.

I can't sign anything. I'm a foreigner.

Dad? Why are you a foreigner?

I'm Icelandic. I was born there.

Then why am I a foreigner?

You're not. Germany is your country.

But Germany can't be my country because I'm Jewish.

Don't forget that you also have Iceland, with me.

They've declared war.

What are you doing?

I'm cold.

Mom doesn't have a country either.

Krétschl told me they want to do a concert

of my works in Potsdam.

How nice.

My works, exclusively.

Dear Miss Riethof,

I hereby extend to you a cordial invitation

to my concert on the 15th of next month.

You must come. - No.

Please. For me?

Mom, you look like a fairy-queen.

Good night.

I guess I should have a word with the concertmaster.

You have a reserved seat in the fourth row.

See you later.

How do I get into the Auditorium?

Out the side door and in through the main entrance.

Do you have a ticket? -I'm Mrs. Leifs, the composer's wife.

Sorry. Nobody goes in here without a ticket.

There must be some misunderstanding.

Mrs. Leifs, just use the stage entrance.

There shouldn't be any problem.

THE COMPOSERS' COUNCIL

It was absolutely fabulous.

Are you coming with us to the bar? -No.

Daddy!

Bye, daddy.

I'm sorry, Mr. Leifs.

You'll have to find some other way to get out.

SWEDISH EMBASSY

Whata is the matter?

Where is your mother? - She's sleeping.

Mom got a letter from Grandpa and Grandma.

Are you ill?

Did they make it...

...to Switzerland?

Dachau.

They're dead.

I'm sorry to be calling so late.

I wanted to speak to Annie. - Annie's asleep.

I have news for her. - She already knows.

Please give her my regards. - Wait.

I have no idea who you really are,

but I know you have some influence.

We have to get out of Germany.

I'll do anything. Whatever's necessary.

You know that Iceland is occupied by the British?

Yes, why?

I'll be in touch.

My dear fellow Icelanders,

not so long ago several people in Reykjavik

smiled in disbelief when I claimed

that Iceland might well become a battleground

for the great powers of the world.

Let's consider how a nation could cease to exist.

There are many dangers, but not unconquerable ones.

The main danger that everyone sees at first

is the occupation of the country by another nation.

It wipes out the Icelandic language and Icelandic culture.

Defensive measures against this have already been initiated.

Now the Icelandic national character

will be put to the test.

Once upon a time there was a little troll

who lived in a big mountain and wanted to see the whole world.

One night he ran and ran and took enormous strides.

And when the sun came up he became very frightened

and started to run back home.

And the fog came so he got lost and was to late home.

He could see his cave.

He could hear the children and the elves playing all around.

Then the sun shone on his head and he changed into a stone.

But the children just kept on playing.

Good afternoon, dad. - Good afternoon.

Daddy was speaking all the way to Iceland.

Mom and I heard it on the radio.

Don't you greet me anymore?

What do you want me to say? Heil Hitler?

Annie, I'm trying to save us. Get us out of...

Why do you bother? You're not a Jew.

My daughters are.

Do you know what it will cost me to do what I just did?

Have you thought about what I'm sacrificing too?

Surely not your conscience, you already sold that, remember?

I am sacrificing my integrity and my reputation

to get you out of this country

and that's all the thanks I get.

Do you really want us all to die here?

What have you sacrificed?

Annie...

...where are you going? Annie!

Where is mom going? - We'll be right back.

Please don't go. It's so dark outside.

I won't be a minute. Snot will look after you.

What are you doing?

You know you're not supposed to be out here at this hour.

You know that.

Annie...

This is crazy.

It's dangerous. - Go away.

Annie, stop...

Annie, please...

How can you say something like that?

How can you ask me that?

A sacrifice is something you decide to make.

By one's own will.

I have only lost.

I've lost my parents, my future, the music...

...and now you. And for what?

Tell me that...for what?

Come on, Annie, don't do this. Let's go home.

Go away.

This is stupid, Annie, you know it is. - Go away.

Come, let's go. this is crazy.

My sweetest madman.

You are to meet someone at the Ministry of Propaganda,

tomorrow at three.

Do you know why? -No.

You are to ask for Mr. Burkhardt at the reception desk.

The swallows are back.

Mr. Leifs...

Goodbye, Mr. Leifs. Have a good trip.

Mr. Zuchner... xxxx

...thank you.

Heil Hitler.

Do you know what these are?

They are exit visas. - What's that?

Permission to leave Germany. - And go to Iceland?

No, to Sweden. - I don't want to go to Sweden.

We can't go to Iceland

because of the war.

I got the passports.

It was Ziichner.

Did you know he works at the Ministry of Propaganda?

Daddy ... I don't mind going to Sweden.

I don't want to stay here any more.

Your documents, please.

A budding violin virtuoso?

It's going to be fun living in Sweden.

Me and Snot can be outside and play all day in the garden.

There is no war there.

Maybe we'll have a white house, with a pond.

Mom can start playing again and daddy gets famous...

It doesn't have to be white...

But you promised.

You can come and visit me, whenever you like.

You promised.

Why do you have to be separated?

This is the way it has to be.

Which hand?

I'm not a little kid anymore.

You promised never to leave me.

I want to give you my magic stone.

I want to live with you. - That's impossible.

Just imagine how sad mom and Snot would be.

Please let me go with you, dad. Please!

Stay with us. - I can't.

Then you're not my dad anymore!

Jon reached Iceland in July 1945 and made his home there.

He married Thorbjorg Johannsdottir Moller.

They had one son.

Annie moved to Stockholm with her daughters.

Lif drowned during a morning swim, July 11, 1947,

on the west coast of Sweden at the age of seventeen.

Snot moved to Iceland with her mother, after Lif's death,

and has been living there since.

Jon Leifs died in Reykjavik, July 30, 1968.

Annie Riethof Leifs died in Reykjavik, November 3, 1970.