All language subtitles for Giordano.Bruno

Long live the Patriarch!

Long live the Republic of Venice!

Long live the heroes of Lepanto!

Long live Saint Mark!

I will also go to Lepanto, to
defend the Holy religion and Venice!

The Turks almost cut my
arm off and took my eye out!

Those sons of dogs!

It was a real butchery:
dead people everywhere,

with their bowels out
and their heads cut off,

and blood running on the
ground, like a sea of wine.

Go to hell, it's the day of Judgement...

Shut up! He still hasn't
finished speaking...

As if everything was
accomplished by the captains.

They've forgotten us poor guys,

but we fought there too, not
just the wealthy and the heroes.

You should participate in the
procession along with the others, then.

Get away.

Look. Look how happy the Patriarch is.

- Kneel down.
- Leave him alone.

- Cross yourself.
- I will...

Come on, gentlemen! Everybody has their
own opinion. He may speak. He may speak.

All right, I crossed myself.

Father Domenico.

Father Domenico.

Why have you come to Venice?

- I want to go back to Rome.
- Why have you returned to Italy?

I want to go back to Rome!

You don't realize the
risk you're taking.

After the election of Clemente VIII,
the situation should be different.

How many people have died at
the hands of the Holy Church?

Don't say another word!
Do you want to ruin me?

I pity you. And I pity all
those that wear robes like yours.

But I care for you.

- Is everything all right, Madam?
- A marvellous party, my dear.

Enjoy yourselves, gentlemen.

It's a very popular dance; it's
called the cheated men's dance.

- The cuckolds' dance.
- "Le ballet des cocus."

The lady chooses a
gentleman to dance with.

"La dame choisie un
cavalier et danse avec lui."

Then she takes him to a room.

"Et puis elle l'accompagne
dans une chambre."

When she comes back, she gives
the torch to her husband or lover.

"Quand elle revient, elle donne le
flambeau à son mari ou à son amant."

So he knows he's been
cheated; he's a cuckold.

"Il sait ainsi qu'il est cocu."

And we know it too.

"Et comme ça nous le savons nous aussi."

Madam...

- As usual, we're late.
- But always welcome.

Come, Madam.

As I supposed, coming to Venice
was the right thing to do.

Look, a member of the
"Council of the Ten": Bragamin.

The one talking to Morosini,
is the Polish ambassador.

I was forgetting something...
an editor friend of mine asked me

if you are willing to let
him publish your new works.

I think it would be appropriate.
Certainly, it'd be advantageous...

Are you enjoying your
stay at Sir Mocenigo's?

- I'm enjoying staying in Venice.
- So, you like our city?

Here, my books are freely available,

and I can go around even more freely.

Who is she?

- Who is she?
- She's Morosini's lover.

Gentlemen, my friends,

I want to introduce you
to a man that we all know

as both a writer and a
philosopher: Giordano Bruno.

You can have a look at a rare beast!

Is it true that you've come here
to teach the secrets of magic?

I'm here to learn.

Pussies would stay closed

if they were to wait for my
money. They'd get all rusty.

Sir Bruno, you're an admirer
of the King of France,

who states he's a protestant,
and who might even be an atheist.

It's true: I admire
the King of Navarre...

he goes from victory to victory,

and crushes the aristocratic families' parties,
which have been drowning France in blood.

But he doesn't take his vengeance...

and instead proclaims religious peace,

after fifty years of war.

He's an enlightened and tolerant prince.

How were you treated abroad?

I've been hated too,

by hypocrites and those
people who talk nonsense.

Is he interested only in philosophy,
or in politics too, this Bruno?

Philosophy, politics... anything.

These are the secrets of our magic:

being beautiful and loveable,

making our lover happy and
being friends with his friends.

Having protection and power. Yes,
being loved and knowing how to love.

You've seen those women on the bridges.

They sell their love to
merchants and sailors,

and fees are fixed by the Senate.

Being rich and powerful:
that's real magic.

Gems, gold and jewels.

People hate you when they look at you.

They see your white skin and they spit.

When I go to Saint Mark's
Square, and I pray to the Lord,

I'm addressing the greatest
power of all, the power of God,

because I believe in God.

Children have a natural magic,

which they are forced to
destroy as they grow up,

so they begin to pray to the
Holy Trinity and the Saints,

to the Holy Virgin...

a big, sky-blue Holy Virgin,

all dressed in gold and incense.

We have to learn how to breathe...

in order to realize once more that...

the trees, the rocks...

the animals...

and the whole earth...

have an inner breath...

an inner breath...

just like us.

They have bones,

veins,

flesh,

just like us.

Get out... get out of here!

Get out of my house! You devil!

Get out of here!

Get out! Get out of here!

Get out of here! Out!

Get out of here!

Get out!

I was talking about...

I was talking about
the magic of children.

The Madonna of Venice.

Shouldn't he have the right to talk, even
though we're stupid and don't understand?

He has the right to talk, hasn't he?

I just wanted to know...

I'd like to know what
colour the milk is?

White.

So, when he thinks of
milk, he thinks of white.

- And who makes the milk?
- The cow.

And what does the cow eat?

Grass.

Meadows, rain,

clouds, the sky,

stars,

universe,

God.

If you wish it so.

Universe,

stars, the sky,

clouds,

rain, meadow,

grass,

moo... cow,

milk.

A living image...

of God.

If you wish it so. Priests
have nothing to do with it.

- You mean it all depends on us?
- This is blasphemy.

Let's start again.

You should think by association.

There are links between the animal,
vegetable and human kingdoms.

Let's go
- this isn't the right place.

Let's go.

Look at that man: he
has a bird-like face.

And that one looks like a cat.

And there's a mouse.

And that one has the face
of an ox, and the temper too.

Let's go, come on. We'd better go.

There are too many faggots in Venice,

so the Most Serene Republic of Venice
has decided to employ this cure...

tits. Eagle, ha, ha, ha!

The number of faggots is
growing, so... tits, tits, tits,

tits for everybody.

This is too easy: lion.

I know her; she's good.

And she does some very tricky jobs!

Tits kill faggots; tits, tits, tits...

There are those who like
tits, those who like asses,

and those who like wine! I do.

Wait, wait. Fish!

Mocenigo, stinky fish.

- Who is he?
- A philosopher.

A philosopher, girls.

- You, philosopher...
- Get out of here.

He's taught me about the
links between men and animals.

What are you talking about?

You, for instance, look like a cow!

- You, instead, would like to be a bull.
- For you and the women here,

until I die.

Yes, yes, but without
money you can't eat.

Listen, Bruno!

Bruno...

God forgives carnal sins.

Come on.

- I'm sure that all of you...
- No kissing.

- and I too, will go to heaven.
- Not on the mouth.

Sure. There are two heavens:

one is for respectable people,

those who like to eat, drink and
have fun, without hurting anybody,

and they'll go on doing the
same things they do here.

Then, there's another heaven
for those who beat their chests,

who always try to understand
and say a lot of prayers,

and they'll have nothing at all.

It's raining.

Holy water: it's good for the dry land.

Bruno... it's raining!

Souls are pissing down
on us, to please us.

Slowly, slowly... or
he'll fall into the water.

Wait, wait, I'll bring his coat.

Come, come, master.

Come on, make him stand. Hold him there.

Hold him tight.

Let's go. Tight.

Tight...

Two more steps and we'll be there.

Sir Giovanni, Sir Giovanni,

he got drunk again, worse than ever.

Come and drink, come and
drink, come and drink...

When he's invited to a house,
he thinks he's in an inn,

then he comes back home at dawn,
drunk, like if he were in his own house.

And I pay for it. I hope you
enjoyed your visit at the Morosinis?

Yes!

It looks like you don't disdain earthly
pleasures, although you're a philosopher.

Who said philosophers should
disdain earthly pleasures?

Mocenigo: screw, screw,

have good health and
love whoever loves you.

Your philosophy is very easy.

Philosophy is never easy!

- Shut up.
- No, stop!

Get out of my house!

I hope you'll be able to teach
me your philosophy someday,

- if you have the time.
- Slowly, slowly... slowly, slowly!

- You have to make an effort.
- An effort?

To get what in exchange?

To get everything or nothing: it
depends on how you look at things.

The philosopher, even though he owns
nothing, is the master of his own destiny.

He's the master of his own destiny.

I've been taught that
the virtue you talk about

grows from faith, and
not from philosophy.

I know, my friend, I know...

I know by heart that kind of talk,
the one they've always used with us,

in the cradle, in school
and then from the pulpit:

be poor in spirit, be humble.

Give up your reason,

turn that dazzling light off, the one
that sets your intelligence on fire,

the one that consumes you, because the
more you know, the more you'll suffer.

Give up your senses. Be a
prisoner of the Holy Faith.

Go on living in your asinine state.

Living like this, is living as if dead!

There are moments when you
and your theories scare me.

I'm thinking about the chaos
that might ensue if everybody,

even servants, boatmen, the people
you wanted to bring into my house,

the poor, start thinking
like you want them to.

There are people that live
in comfort like you do,

and other men that are
forced to tighten their belts,

but all men are equal,

and all men have the right
to look straight up...

at the sky, where the
sun of truth shines down.

Even boatmen and servants.

I summoned you, Giovanni...

because I'm a friend of yours.

You... can give your
protection to anybody,

- but not to an enemy of the Church.
- An enemy of the Church?

A misbeliever. Don't
tell me you didn't know?

Since I welcomed him into my house,

he hasn't done anything

to justify such a serious charge.

I've heard that he secretly...

- practices black magic.
- No, no! I don't believe it.

Do you want me to send him away?

- I'll do it if you order it.
- No.

- I'm not giving any orders.
- So?

Your business is going well...

but it could go even better.

So...

why are you looking
for trouble, Giovanni?

Why are you exposing yourself?

I'm thinking of the sake of your soul.

The salvation of my
soul is in your hands.

The cosmos:

one, eternal, infinite,

and Earth is one of the worlds.

And we, living on it,

we, the forms,

turn around the sun,
without realizing it.

I don't care about the cosmos,
or the movement of the earth.

- For two months I've been...
- What...?

I've been feeding you, giving
you shelter and paying you.

Go on.

You know the art of prediction, magic...

Everybody has a natural
magic inside them,

but black magic is idiots' stuff.

Black or white, you're here to
teach me how to read the future.

I want to know how to exert
power over someone else...

how to dominate the will of others.

I don't know.

But that's the reason
why I made you come here.

Why do you want to dominate the others?

Besides...

you know, sorcery is forbidden.
There are serious punishments.

- I'm rich.
- Ah.

- I can give you all the money you want.
- Eh.

And my protection. You need it.

Wealth.

Wealth... has driven you crazy.

You don't know what nobility
and wealth really are.

Nobody's ever dared to talk
like that to a Mocenigo!

Forgive me.

Do you want to know your future? Do
you want to know what the cards say?

They say that I'm leaving your house.

You can go only after
clearing your debts!

I have no debts whatsoever.

Servants, Bortolo,
come here immediately!

You must follow me, sir. It's an order
from the Holy Venetian Inquisition.

No! Your stuff stays here.

Filippo Giordano Bruno.

- Age?
- 44.

44.

- Place of birth?
- Nola.

Nola? Where is that?

- Naples, Naples...
- Naples, Naples...

- Nola! Not Naples.
- Silence!

What are you?

A writer and a philosopher.

Writer and philosopher.

Philosophers and writers
are friends with the rich!

The reason for the arrest?

Orders from the Holy
Venetian Inquisition.

Good luck, mate.

I'm Graziano da Udine.

Giulio, and Vaia from Naples.

Giovanni Antonio Veronese.

Celestino da Verona, heretic.

I've been put on trial twice.

I've foresworn everything, and
now they've caught me again.

What did you do to end up here?

I stumbled upon an idiot.

- Celestino, martyr of faith!
- Enough. Enough!

Shut up! Criminals!

They're all ignorant.

Criminals.

They managed to escape from
the prisons of the Papal States,

to finally enter the Venetian ones.

And now, Rome wants them back.

I think that Venice

will give nobody back.

They won't, right? Here's the prophet!

Look at the prophet!

- Look at him!
- Leave him alone.

Among the monks!

How long was he a guest in your house?

- For two months.
- Why did you invite him?

I'd been told that he's a savant,

and that he could
teach the art of memory.

- Why did you report him?
- My conscience forced me to.

And my confessor ordered me to.

I understand; this
justifies your report.

But, of course, it doesn't acquit you
from having let him into your house.

As soon as I realized that
he wasn't a good catholic,

but rather a misbeliever,
I amended my error.

And you...

you...

Are you a good catholic, Sir Mocenigo?

Did you want Bruno to
teach you the magic arts?

No... no.

Not magic, but the art of memory.

Tell me everything, then.

The blasphemies you've heard,
the sins he's committed,

and those that you're aware of.

The heresies that he
pronounced in front of you.

He said bad things about
our Lord Jesus Christ.

- And you?
- Me?

I crossed myself and told him: "shut
up, you devil, or you'll end up in hell".

And he laughed and told me: "what,
do you still believe in hell"?

And I told him that he
was worse than a Lutheran.

Lutherans believe in eternal damnation.

But he doesn't. That's why I said worse.

He laughed and said: "good,

"go ahead and wait for the day of
Judgement, when everybody will rise again,

"and you'll get such a nice surprise!"

Because he believes,
instead, that eternity means

that life never ends, and
that souls go eternally

- from body to body.
- When did he say all this?

The other day.

They want you.

Twenty-five years ago, in Naples,

I had just celebrated my first Mass,

when I was put on trial twice.

The first time, when I removed all the pictures
of the Saints from the Dominican convent,

where I had been staying
since I was fourteen.

I removed all the pictures of the
Saints, leaving only the crucifix.

The second time, when I told a novice,

who was reading "The Seven
Joys of the Holy Virgin",

to throw that book away and read books
about the lives of our Holy Fathers.

I was put on trial
twice and I fled to Rome,

hoping that I would get justice
from the General of the Order,

but I didn't.

So, I abandoned my
robe and religious life.

To earn a living, I started
teaching the art of memory

to children, in Noli, in Liguria.

I went to Turin,

then I followed the river Po, and
came for the first time to Venice,

where I spent almost a month.

I lived in the house of a workingman...

- A workingman?
- ...whose name I can't recall.

The plague made me leave
Venice and then Padova.

I crossed the Alps and reached
Geneva, ruled by the Calvinists.

But I didn't want to
submit to their religion,

so I went to Toulouse, where I stayed
two years, teaching at the University.

Religious and civil wars
made me flee to Paris,

where the king, Henry III, asked
me to teach him the art of memory.

After five years of
teaching at the Sorbonne,

and new civil wars and
slaughters, I fled to London,

where Queen Elizabeth honoured
me, by showing me her esteem.

Later, in Prague, Rudolf II von Habsburg
- a good monarch,

protector of the sciences -

gave me 300 thalers for
one of my geometric works.

At the Frankfurt Book Fair,

I received an invitation to come
here, from Sir Giovanni Mocenigo.

To Venice.

Why didn't you tell him that you
fled from Toulouse overnight...

because you were screwing the
University Chancellor's wife?

You must remember every word:

what they ask and what you answer.

He didn't even say his
name when he came in here!

Shut up!

And then? What did they ask you?

- Then a whole series of questions...
- But I recognized him right away.

I had been hearing about this
charlatan for many years...

Let him talk!

Then a whole series
of catechism questions.

The Holy Trinity, the
Saints, the Virgin Mary.

They treat us like children.

They're right: we're guilty.
Outside the Church we're at fault,

outside the Church we're mistaken!

All this while the world is
torn apart by wars of religion.

- A hundred years of continuous slaughter.
- What would you like to do?

Reform the world? Get back to Paris
if you want to preach like that,

go back to England. You
don't care about men anyway!

You hurt him.

Monsignore, what should
I tell the Sea Captain,

who's here to take Giordano
Bruno into his custody?

Tell him to wait at the harbour,
and be ready to set sail at any time.

He's a devil.

The story of his journeys
is a bunch of lies.

We well know that he had
contacts with the French court,

the English and German courts
- it wasn't a matter of ‘the art of memory’.

He only remembers the
things that suit him.

We've listened to a long
streak of senseless words.

Venice has been taking it easy
with the enemies of religion.

In a hundred years, there
have been 1500 faith trials,

and only 5 death sentences.

While in Rome, in five years,
they've killed 5000 people.

Monsignor Nunzio, in Rome
you are too keen on burning.

Let's not forget that, until now,

all the witnesses summoned against
Bruno have testified in his favour.

We have only Mocenigo's accusation.

You know the canonical law: Unus testis,
nullus testis. [One witness, no witness]

Blessed Patriarch,

the Roman Inquisition wants Giordano
Bruno to be put on trial in Rome.

I don't see why in Rome?

He's been arrested in Venice, after
the accusation of a Venetian nobleman.

We have enough courts, jails,

and even wood, to build a fire
and the gallows, if needed.

We wish to judge if a man is
guilty or not using our own heads,

and not someone else's.

So, I kindly advise you...

- to send the ship back.
- The ship?

It would just stay here
and wait for too long.

We'll see what they
think of this in Rome.

"In Italy things are not the
same as in some foreign countries,

"where, due to the coldness of the
climate or the coldness of the people,

"men who go with women are persecuted.

"In our cities, not
only whores are allowed,

"or courtesans, if you wish..."

"Do you hear him? This
man is praising our cities

"because there are brothels
and disreputable ladies."

"Please, listen to me. Not only...

"whores are allowed by city laws,

"but the brothels are
regularly established

- "as nunneries."
- "This is a nice one:

"this man would like
brothels to be included

"in one of the 400 minor orders
or one of the 4 major ones,

"and maybe to have a mother
superior in every whorehouse!"

That's enough!

"Il Candelaio",

a comedy in five acts by Giordano Bruno.

You've heard with your own ears
his obscene and unholy language.

But that's a playful work, Eminence.

Maybe we'd better judge the man...

- from his most significant works.
- Those are even worse!

"Il Candelaio" offends only our decency.

His other works offend
our religious conscience.

I bet that Bruno has
never amused himself more

- than with the Venetian judges.
- We know about the environment in Venice.

The inquisition is controlled by
the Council of the Ten and the Doge.

Venice is a nest of vipers:

all the heretics of Europe get
together in Saint Mark's Square.

Why don't you write the announcement,
to put the Patriarch under pressure?

Does he want to defy the College of
Cardinals? Does he want to oppose the Pope?

Besides, there's still the
old matter of the fugitives.

But I don't think we should start
a conflict with the Venetian Church.

I'd rather deal directly
with the Republic.

It's a city of merchants, and with
merchants you can always find an agreement.

Let's offer something in exchange.

For instance?

Speak freely: Orsini is
a trustworthy young man.

So?

For instance, some prebend

for the most important families.

I'm sure the Doge
wouldn't be displeased.

They're sending the criminals to Rome.

They're sending them to Rome, to Rome!

Father Giordano -

you said that Venice wouldn't yield.

They'll soon take you away too.

I confess my errors.

Maybe I've made some mistakes
and strayed from the Holy Church,

but I'm here to repent.

I'm here to receive the remedy.

I confess my errors.

And I humbly ask God, and
all of you to forgive me.

I'm ready to receive
whatever is decided by you,

and deemed helpful for my soul.

Moreover, I even ask you to
inflict a severe punishment on me,

but not to make me foreswear in public,

because it would only bring dishonour
to these clothes I'm wearing.

If God's mercy and your
mercy grant me freedom,

I promise I'll change my conduct.

And I promise I will make up
for the scandal I've caused,

with similar edification.

You foreswore.

You were afraid.

Bruno, I understand you.

I know that all of this
has already happened to you.

But fear is madness
- I foreswore in order to still be able to think...

in order to still be able to act.

This is what an abjuration is worth.

That Bruno still hasn't
stopped giving me trouble.

They want him in Rome,
to burn him at the stake.

We already did everything
we could possibly imagine...

to please the Holy See
regarding the fugitives,

but it doesn't seem to have been enough.

I don't understand why we
take this matter so seriously?

Who's this Bruno? Is he a
relative of one of our families?

Is he a Foscari, a Dandolo, a Bragadin?

What I know is that
he's a kind of farmer,

who studied in a monastery, and who now
professes to be a philosopher and a magician.

The Pope wants him:
let's deliver him to Rome.

It's not like delivering
him to the Turks, I think.

No, no. Bruno is not a common
criminal, like the fugitives.

All the eyes of the world are on us.

Why should it be my decision?
What's the role of the Senate, then?

Sure, I think we're
getting over-concerned:

it's a simple matter, instead.
The Senate will make a decision.

It's beautiful.

Thank you.

Is it true that they want him in Rome?

You remember your last invitation...

"Tomorrow I will have a celebration
in honour of Giordano Bruno,

"a philosopher known all across Europe."

You were proud to show
him off to your friends,

and to everybody else
hanging around your house.

What are you going to do for him now?

I went to the courthouse and
I testified in his favour.

I exposed myself without reserve.

You are a Morosini.

You're powerful; nobody can touch you.

And you have the courage to
tell those mummies at the Senate

that it would be an infamy, a
scandal, to deliver him to Rome.

Be careful: sooner or later
we'll pay for these things.

It would be a shame for Venice.

You'll see:

we will judge and decide
rightly, according to our laws.

What has made our Republic so powerful?

Our courage, our determination
in fighting any abuse.

Remember what happened 50 years ago.

Another Pope had excommunicated
the whole city of Venice,

but we resisted

and the excommunication was withdrawn.

But who will remove from us
the mark of Pontius Pilatus,

if we deliver Bruno to his persecutors?

This is the question you are
supposed to answer, gentlemen.

I'm telling you that if Venice delivers
Bruno into the hands of the monks in Rome,

we'll be drowning in shit, up to here.

You shouldn't laugh.
You don't understand.

If a man is free, he lives here
as a free man. That's right,

but if a man is free and is sent away,
to a place where there's no freedom,

then that means that there's no freedom
here either. Not in Venice either!

- They say he's a sorcerer.
- Virgin Mary!

Yes, yes. He's a sorcerer.
One of my neighbours told me.

Yes, yes. I've heard it too. It's true.

Before coming to a conclusion,

I kindly ask you to consider
the consequences that our refusal

to deliver Bruno could
have, regarding...

- our relations with the Holy See,...
- It's wrong, but let him speak!

- since they have the right to ask for it!
- It's wrong, but let him speak...

Twenty years ago, in Padova,

there was a case involving
a certain Pomponio Algerico,

I think that was his name...

They say that people would
eat garlic when they saw him,

because the devil protected him.

The guards! The guards!

Voters: 172 For: 142

Against: 10 Abstentions: 20.

The Senate decides by majority...

that Giordano Bruno be delivered
to the Holy Roman Inquisition.

JUDAS

Scoundrels! Swine!

Sons of dogs! Scoundrels!

The whole of nature is
ruled by a deep harmony.

Invisible lines

link small earthly things

like, for instance, the power of men,

to the stars,

to the infinite worlds
that we don't yet know.

The moon causes the tides

and women's menstruation.

The life or death of
plants depend on the sun,

as does the alternation of the seasons,

and even the life or death of men.

To a new vision of the universe,

we must associate a new vision of man.

We must associate a new vision of man.

If the earth goes around the sun,

as the other planets go around the sun,

if other suns, solar systems,
exist, all around the universe,

if this is true
- and it is true -

then God is not up above
us, outside the world,

but everywhere, in any living
or inert particle of matter.

God is matter itself.

Out, out all these pedants!

They've turned the Sorbonne
into an ignorance workshop.

We want a free philosophy,
a free scientific research.

While you impose your
desire of supremacy,

we want thought and science to be free

from any religious, civil
or academic authority.

You want to suffocate any
expressions of the spirit.

This way...

This way, bigots and pedants
may be chased away forever

from the Sorbonne and from every
University. Amen, amen, amen.

This University, with
limited access, is unfair.

Chairs should be given to men who seek
knowledge, not to those who use dogmas.

Desks should be available
for anybody who loves science.

A real free teaching,

a society in which
manual work and thought

are honoured equally.

Only in this way may the
homo novus [new man] be born.

Father Giordano Bruno from Nola...

you're accused of apostasy,

of heresy,

of blasphemous teachings
against religion,

of conspiring against the
Church and against the Pope.

This court, which wishes
to judge you fairly,

invokes upon itself the
enlightenment of the Holy Spirit.

You may ask for a defender.

I claim to know the art of dialectics:

I'd rather defend myself.

It's your right.

In Venice, I foreswore my errors,

I made an act of contrition for my sins.

Shouldn't there be a sentence,
instead of a new trial?

You cannot ask any questions.

We're the ones who will question you.

I remember the despicable
comedy of your abjuration.

The inquisition of Venice
was falling for your trap.

Besides the old statements,
foresworn by the accused in Venice,

there are more, against
faith, taken from his books.

I claim to be a philosopher,
not a theologian.

I've always been interested in
morals and science, not in faith.

But this has not stopped you

from setting yourself up
against our holy religion.

I've always tried to
study only philosophy.

What about your assertions
regarding the Holy Trinity?

And regarding hell?

Well, I'll admit it:
I've never understood

what it means to talk about
three different beings;

what it means when we say that the
Holy Spirit is a third "person".

I cannot conceive it as a person.

I have to say that not even the
Gospels, nor Saint Augustine,

ever used this term.

The devils, hell...

where souls are forever damned.

Well, I admit it: according to
reason, I can't understand it.

But according to Catholic Truth?

This question implies that
there are two different truths:

a Catholic one, and a philosophical one.

There's only one truth:

the one revealed by God and kept
in custody by the Holy Church.

Ask me some questions, then.

Specific ones.

From a careful reading of your works

what stands out, in the first
place, is a charge for sorcery.

You have stated that Moses was a
magician, along with our Lord Jesus Christ.

A natural magic exists, and it reflects
and reveals the divine order of nature.

Father Giordano,

have you thought about what a
sentence for sorcery would mean?

Do you realize what would happen?

We are here to help you,

but you must give us some
proof of your good faith.

You have stated that our
Lord Jesus Christ was hanged

and not crucified, that he didn't want
to die, and that he died against his will,

that he was a sad person,

and that he used to perform
miracle-like acts to seduce the people.

You have written:

"All incomes for convents
and priests must be revoked,

"because they make the world filthy."

You have written:

"Priests should get
married, because it's a shame

"for the Church to regard as sin
such a wonderful gift of nature."

You have written: "no existing religion

"is good, because each of them
is equally an instrument of power,

"and drives men to fratricidal
fighting and bloody wars."

Yes, I have written this. But
the other things... not like this.

You have written: "The
Catholic Church uses procedures

- "that are not those of the Apostles."
- Not like this, not like this!

"Because the Apostles used preaching
and good examples to convert,

- "while now you..."
- No, no, no! No, not like this!

This way, you don't
allow me to defend myself.

I have written!

I've written many books.

I've stated my ideas inside of
them, making good arguments for them.

You now contest some of my assertions,

some sentences taken here
and there from my writings,

in order to twist their meaning
and turn them against me.

- Enough!
- You should rather take into account

the whole body of my works.

I'm ready to discuss them with
every scholar of the Church,

if that's what you really want.

- You may go now, thank you.
- Your Holiness.

We have carefully read
these written records.

Father Tragagliolo,

we think we have well
understood the case.

If the Holy Roman Inquisition

is firmly decided on
bringing Bruno to the stake,

they will have to use some
more accurate proceedings

than the Holy Venetian Inquisition.

We'd like to ask you to inform
Cardinal Sartori about the matter,

since he devoted himself so much
to transferring the case to Rome,

our doubts notwithstanding.

Your Holiness,

I beg you to state your wishes.

We ask you to help
us not to be mistaken.

That's all.

We don't like jails and stakes.
And we have a strange foreboding...

Remember that this is the first trial
for heresy, and an important one,

to be held under our pontificate.

We wish to be informed
daily of the proceedings.

You've been at the service of the Lutherans
in Germany and the Calvinists in Geneva,

and you've been sent away both times.

Your doctrinal errors
hide other objectives.

You have conspired for the interests of
the King of France, the king of Navarre.

I've never met the King of Navarre.

And weren't you friend and
confident to his predecessor,

the late King Henry III?

I could only answer to the
Pontiff, in private audition.

I could only answer to the
Pontiff, in private audition.

Henry of France sent you
to the court of England,

in order to support new alliances
against Rome! Against the Pope!

I went to England to study.

I spent my time discoursing
with scholars in Oxford.

I went to England to study.

I spent my time discoursing
with scholars in Oxford.

What was the reason for your
contacts with the European monarchs?

You have founded a sect,
the sect of the Giordanists,

and you've appointed
yourself leader of said sect.

What was its purpose?

Find only one member of this sect
and bring him into this courtroom.

Find only one member of this sect
and bring him into this courtroom.

Why did you go to Germany?

Why did you go to England?

How is it possible that there's
no other witnesses to be found,

- besides the Mocenigo?
- We're confident that we'll find others.

Who did you get in contact with?

What was your political mission?

There's only one way. We need to
question him using the right method.

Giordano Bruno, I urge you once more:

don't persist with
your errors and denials.

In doing so, you will lose your soul...

and force us to employ all the severity

required by the laws
of the Holy Inquisition.

You must confess thoroughly,
and without reserve.

Repent; give up your pride.

Be humble, before God and the Church.

What kind of reforms did you
want to suggest for the Church?

I'll speak... only...

to...

Clemente... VIII.

To the stake! To the stake!

Bruno, Bruno, don't go! Stop!

The witch! The witch!

No, no, no!

No... no! No!

No! No!

You wretch! You filthy
bitch! You are our ruin!

No! No! No!

No! No! No!

You denied the divinity of Christ.

You've said terrible
things about our Lord.

You denied the Holy Trinity.

You refuse to acknowledge the
authority of the College of Cardinals.

You have accused the Church
of corruption and ignorance.

You refuse to obey.

You renounced the holy vows.

You renounced your religious order.

Have you told any falsehoods

or lies in your deposition...

for fear of torture,
prison or anything else?

Did you hide the truth?

Stay still. You must try to sleep.

You must not move if you feel
pain, otherwise it's worse.

I'll try to bring you
something tomorrow.

What kind of man is he?

Certainly, he's a scholar.

He has a wide knowledge of philosophy,
astronomy, the art of memory,

medicine, natural sciences and theology.

How did he endure the interrogation?

He denied for a while,

then he shut himself up,
in deep concentration.

As if he were praying?

Perhaps.

As if what they were doing to his body

didn't concern him.

He seemed to be drifting away...

from us, from the
judges, from everything.

All those that have seen the Saints
suffer and die for their faith...

have used those same words, Tragagliolo.

Maybe this trial is a big mistake.

- Your Holiness...
- What do you think of this reform,

the one that Bruno is suggesting?

Your Holiness must know better than
anyone else what should be thought of it.

The Church is facing serious
choices; our heart is very troubled.

Many times, when I cannot sleep,

I question myself and I ask
the Holy Spirit to enlighten me.

Your Holiness, tell me what to do

and I will carry out
your orders faithfully.

Come on, stand up.

One of his sentences struck me:

"I will speak only to Clemente VIII."

Bruno...

Bruno...

I'm Francesco Pucci
- do you remember me?

In England, at Oxford.

They're catching us
all, one after another.

I've been dragged from prison to prison.

I've been hoping for a change for years.

Instead, there's been a sentence.

I've already been judged.

Heretic. Recidivist.

You know what it means.

We try to serve the truth,

but that's a crime
that they don't forgive.

Get some rest, Bruno: try
to build your strength up.

God knows if you'll need it.

Who are you? Who are you?

Who are you?

- Thank you.
- You're welcome.

Your Eminence,

Monsignor Roberto Belarmino is
humbly asking you to meet him.

Yes, I'm coming.

- Massimiliano.
- Yes, Eminence.

Long live Cardinal Sartori.

Eminence.

Amen.

No, no.

I guess... it's about Bruno?

He's bewitched you too, hasn't he?

It seems that this stake
is very hard to set on fire.

What are you trying to tell me?

I must admit that I'm very troubled

by this trial.

We're facing a very rigorous man.

He's a scientist, a philosopher;
he's admired everywhere in Europe.

Certainly.

We can say that you've already
gained your cardinal robe,

your young age notwithstanding.

So, I'm almost telling this to a
colleague: according to my experience,

Bruno is the worst
heretic I've ever met,

since I've been appointed
defender of the faith.

I have to say that there are others,
even in the College of Cardinals,

- that share my concerns.
- I'll talk to them.

You should begin with the Holy Father.

The Pope is only asking to be convinced
of the rightness of this cause.

If I had only one half
of your intelligence,

I'm sure that at the last conclave...

Pope Sartori would have been
elected, instead of Aldo Brandini.

But you'd make good use of
a little bit of my character.

You think I'm gross
and brutal, don't you?

The truth is that the Church needs...

heads like yours for its doctrines,

and a fist like mine for its defence.

We can't take any
chances, you know that.

Unfortunately, one man alone

may hurt us more than
an army of barbarians.

Remember Luther.

- Mater potentissima. [All-powerful
Mother.] - Ora pro nobis. [Pray for us.]

- Mater purissima.
- Ora pro nobis.

- Mater castissima.
- Ora pro nobis.

- Mater Immacolata.
- Ora pro nobis.

- Mater Intemerata.
- Ora pro nobis.

- Mater boni consili.
- Ora pro nobis.

- Virgo Clemens.
- Ora pro nobis.

- Virgo fidelis.
- Ora pro nobis.

- Speculum iustitiae.
- Ora pro nobis.

- Sedes sapientiae.
- Ora pro nobis.

- Causa nostrae laetitiae.
- Ora pro nobis.

- Vas spirituale.
- Ora pro nobis.

- Vas Honorabile.
- Ora pro nobis.

- Vas insigne devotionis.
- Ora pro nobis.

- Rosa mystica.
- Ora pro nobis.

- Turris Davidica.
- Ora pro nobis.

- Turris Eburnea.
- Ora pro nobis.

- Domus Aurea.
- Ora pro nobis.

- Federis arca.
- Ora pro nobis.

- Janua coeli.
- Ora pro nobis.

- Stella mattutina.
- Ora pro nobis.

- Salus infirmorum.
- Ora pro nobis.

- Refugium peccatorum.
- Ora pro nobis.

- Consolatrix Afflictorum.
- Ora pro nobis.

Look carefully, Giordano.

Look carefully.

And you wish to separate
the Church from its sons?

Why have you broken
away from the Church?

Why have you left your order?

With your intelligence,

and your knowledge,

you could have been a Cardinal.

But you have no humility, Giordano.

Have you called me here to your house

to judge my character?

So, you've travelled all around
Europe only to understand that,

after all, the Catholic religion
is the one you like the most?

Even though it needs new rules
- that's what you said.

A reform to pull all of
Christianity together.

Isn't this what you wanted to suggest?

Isn't it?

Your persistent demand for a
direct dialogue with the Pope

is causing only
irritation to your judges.

The Church has its hierarchy,

its structure.

You can't defy an order
that's lasted for centuries,

without damaging your own cause.

Today, the Church is only an
instrument of conservation.

The Church lives in history;

it is history.

These times demand great
strength and resolution.

And even cruelty... but time
goes on, and the Church lives on.

So, you persecute all
those that ask for a freedom

- that you're not willing to give?
- That we cannot give.

The Church is torn apart by
endless schisms, everywhere.

Germany, England,

Scandinavia, Switzerland,
and now even Flanders.

The kings challenge us.

The kings have learned from the Church

how to use faith as
an instrument of power.

So, each state aims to
institute its own religion.

This is why we are forced to
defend ourselves so severely.

Defend yourselves? How? Using Spain,

which preserves the purity of the faith
by burning Arabs and Jews by the thousand?!

Spain is the most faithful
daughter of Christianity,

our barrier against all heresies.

Using Spain!

Today, the Catholic Church...

is ploughing a deep furrow...

that divides Europe.

The duty of the Church is to defend
the integrity of its principles

and fight heresy in any form.

Whoever defies the power of
the Church, is an enemy...

an enemy of the Holy Faith.

Please, let them take
me back to my cell.

The nights in the prison of San
Domenico di Castello were long.

Bruno couldn't get any sleep.

He kept on talking and talking.

He drew magical signs in the air.

He used to be delirious.

When he went mad,

you could see hell in his eyes...

the devil itself!

Then he assumed a mocking tone,

and he started speaking against God!

Against the Church!

Against the Tribunal
of the Holy Inquisition.

- And then?
- Then...

as others can confirm,

I heard the worst
blasphemies coming from him.

That's right.

Write it down: I'll tell you everything.

"And he told me more than once

"that the Church is a shop
where only heresies are sold.

"He told me that all the wealth of the
priests should be given to the poor.

"And then he told me

"that when he foreswore in
Venice, it was only a joke,

"in order to get out of prison
and be able to go to Rome,

"and talk with the Pope."

You're an unrepentant sinner and a rebel.
You're almost in the hands of your executioner;

think about your children.

If you aid justice, you will save your
soul, and maybe you will avoid execution.

Close the cells!

I want to know the names! The names!

This is a copy of the written
records, with the charges

that have become apparent after
hearing new depositions against you.

How can we defend ourselves, if we don't
know the names of those who are accusing us?

According to procedure,

the Holy Office is bound to
keep the witnesses' names secret,

in order to avoid any vengeance
coming from the heretics.

We don't give a fuck
about your procedures!

We want to know the names
of those who are accusing us!

The names, the names,
the names, the names!

Here's that young man
who wants to talk to you.

Only a few minutes. Go.

I wanted to meet you.

I've read many of your books.

I've read them by
command of my superiors.

We're carrying out an
analysis of your works.

This work has been assigned by the
Tribunal of the Holy Inquisition.

You have written:

"Magic is the power to multiply, using
the arts, computation and symbols,

"our mastery of the world."

You have written:

"Men are not like bees or ants,

"always repeating the same
acts. They build their knowledge

"and may invent and
communicate their inventions.

"Memory, for man, is not only repetition,
but also acquisition of new knowledge."

You have written:

"The arts, science, work...

"will greatly increase man's power,

"and man will need the right
philosophy for this kind of development.

"All men, not only the philosopher."

I've decided to wear this
robe because I firmly believe.

You should see how your ideas
travel, in Italy and in Europe.

Not only among us, but also among the
people, the youngsters and the peasants.

Maybe that's why they hate you so much.

Maybe now my abjuration
would be enough for them?

Abjuration may also mean

taking a long path that
drives you away from God.

Bruno, Bruno...

look: they're coming.

In nomine Domine, amen. [In
the name of the Lord, amen.]

These are Jews and Christians.

The old man is Carranza,
Archbishop of Toledo.

He spent 15 years in
prison, first in Valladolid,

then in Rome, at Castel Sant'Angelo.

...nevertheless, we decree that
neither you, nor your descendants,

until the seventh degree,
may occupy public offices.

Heretics, kneel down.

Bartolomeo Carranza,

are you ready to reject your sins

and make an act of repentance,

obedience, remission?

Kneel down! Kneel down!

Your Holiness, the water is rising
and it's submerging whole districts.

The Romans are terrified.

Besides hunger, and
the fury of the river,

they fear the new
plague brought by mice.

We're doing everything we can.

Looters who steal from abandoned
houses are executed in-situ.

Appeasing services are held
many times a day in Churches.

Governor, why didn't you
say "in empty Churches"?

Nobody attends them any more.

The priests are left alone.

Your Holiness,

the people see the flood as
a sign of the wrath of God,

caused by our weakness towards
the enemies of the faith.

You can go now, Monsignori.

Take all the measures
that you deem necessary,

and take my blessing and
my comfort to the people.

Many times we have envied you, Sartori.

You never have any doubts.

I must confess, I don't
understand, Your Holiness.

Too many executions. The people
can't bear the gallows any more.

We can't afford to loosen our severity.

Otherwise, the people will raise their heads,
and start making decisions by themselves.

The reign of terror is
certainly not the reign of God.

Your Holiness,

I can see that some of Giordano
Bruno's ideas have reached

even the Apostolic Palace.

- Are you accusing the Pope of heresy?
- No.

I didn't say that.

I didn't say that.

If Bruno is capable of troubling
even the soul of the Holy Pontiff,

that's another valid reason
to send him to the stake.

It's easy to start a fire, but
sometimes it's difficult to put it out.

I'm afraid that this stake
will burn for centuries.

Are we talking about a trial
for heresy, or a beatification?

Furthermore, for a living person.

The Holy Inquisition
has enough evidence.

What if those three heretics
didn't tell the truth?

If they lied to save themselves?

I heartily beg Your
Holiness to think it over.

During the holy year, pilgrims
will come to Rome from everywhere.

What will we offer them?

Our doubts and our conflicts...

or better, an everlasting
memory of our justice?

You Holiness, think about
the times we're living in.

Nowadays, kings are not safe in their
kingdoms, princes tremble in their fiefdoms,

and even merchants in their houses.

The purpose of Bruno's philosophy
is to destroy any form of government.

If we want to prevent a
revolt, there's only one way:

to eradicate evil at its
roots. We must execute Bruno.

That man must live.

Yes, yes, he must live.

And not die at the stake, like a martyr.

He must live, because he must
destroy his ideas by himself,

by publicly foreswearing them.

You won't succeed.

You won't succeed!

- From our thoughts...
- From our thoughts...

- remove...
- remove...

- the scorpion of fraud...
- the scorpion of fraud...

- the eagle of arrogance...
- the eagle of arrogance...

- the fish of unworthy silence...
- the fish of unworthy silence...

- the lion of tyranny.
- the lion of tyranny.

- Let's move away from men...
- Let's move away from men...

- this night of horror...
- this night of horror...

- Mater potentissima.
- Ora pro nobis.

- Mater purissima.
- Ora pro nobis.

- Mater castissima.
- Ora pro nobis.

No, no, I confess! I want
to foreswear publicly!

I admit all my faults!
I foreswear my sins!

I proclaim my act of obedience!

No!

I don't want to die! No!

Father Giordano, they're killing me!

They're killing me!

I betrayed you!

I made false statements under oath,
because they promised me they'd let me live!

Bruno, Bruno, forgive me!

They made me do it!

Forgive me!

- Insigne devotionis.
- Ora pro nobis.

- Rosa mystica.
- Ora pro nobis.

God, receive my soul.

Receive me.

Who's giving them the right to kill?

Not God.

The Holy Office is divided.

Someone will offer you a
possibility to save yourself.

Don't refuse it.

Don't despise life.

Don't think that I despise
life, or that I'm afraid.

Against the bloody madness of death,

nature screams loudly

that matter, in all
forms, must not fear death,

because matter and form
are eternal principles.

The eternity of everything
includes the universe,

and the seasons,

and days and nights.

And it's everything...

and everyone.

Everywhere, in all places.

I love life.

Give up your pride.

Not everybody wants your death.

The committee appointed by this tribunal

has finished its careful
examination of Bruno's writings,

and the second reading of all
written records of the interrogation.

I ask His Holiness for permission
to proceed with the reading

of the conclusions.

I suggest that Giordano
Bruno be allowed to speak,

in case he wishes to make
any declaration of principle.

We want the death of
sin, not the sinner's.

We have come to the decision
to leave aside many charges,

and summarize the others
in eight statements,

that we definitely
believe to be heretic.

You have written against the
Pope and the Catholic Church.

You have doubted Mary's virginity.

You have denied the
transubstantiation of the flesh.

You have asserted that Christ wasn't
God's son, but only a magician.

You have asserted the existence
of countless and eternal worlds,

and that the Earth
revolves around the Sun.

You have stated your belief in
reincarnation, and not in hell.

You have stated that even
the devils will be saved.

You have stated that
magic is legitimate,

and that even the Apostles and
the prophets were magicians.

These are the same statements

that you have already foresworn
before the Venetian Inquisition,

and that we urge you to retract,

solemnly and publicly,

in the Church of Santa
Maria della Minerva.

You may take your time to decide.

You are being given forty
days to think it over.

May God enlighten you.

You haven't been eating
nor drinking for many days,

your lips are so dry
that they're all chapped.

Why are you doing this?

My kingdom is divided.

The kingdom of France is
torn apart by religious wars.

Catholics and Huguenots slaughter
each other. The aristocracy is divided.

After fifty years of wars,

this nation needs an
enlightened and just prince.

Proclaim religious peace.

Many support this decision,
not only among the French.

Spain threatens this peace.

In the name of the catholic religion,
they want to dominate the world.

Then, ally yourself with Henry
III. Forget religious differences,

and firmly bind the kingdom of
England to the kingdom of France.

It is possible for Catholics,
Protestants, and people of any religion,

to live together in peace.

I think that a king can rule,

regardless of any religious disputes.

Then, politicians must not be

instruments in the hands of religion,

because this would mean bad government.

A state allowing religion
to rule would be senseless.

I want to be remembered
as a good Christian king.

Father Giordano Bruno, you've
had enough time to think.

This tribunal wants to know your answer

to its generous offer.

When I said that

the procedures used by the Church

are not those of the Apostles,

because the Church uses
power instead of love...

when I said that, I wasn't wrong.

When I said...

that my philosophy

supports free research and not dogma,

I wasn't wrong.

I was wrong...

when I thought that
I could ask the Church

to fight a whole system

built on superstition,

ignorance and violence.

I was wrong...

I,

when I thought that I could
reform the human condition,

with the help of one prince or another.

I've tried many times...

what an humiliation!

Henry III of France... blood!

Elizabeth of England... blood!

Rudolf II von Habsburg... blood!

And even the monarch

who claims to sit above all,

but who's not among us tonight...

blood!

What an humiliation...

asking those in power

to reform power.

How naive of me.

You wanted my confession: you've had it.

It's the confession...

of a defeat.

What did he say?

These are the records of
the hearing, Your Holiness.

What is Your Holiness' decision?

We wish the case to be closed
and a sentence to be pronounced,

as soon as possible.

Leave me alone, now.

There he is!

Eminence, he's coming.

Gentlemen, Bruno's coming.

Apostolic Notary, Sir,
do you have a sentence?

- Yes, Eminence.
- Do you have two witnesses with you?

Yes, Eminence:

Francesco Pietrasanta and
Father Benedetto Mandina.

Are you, Giordano Bruno,
ready to hear the sentence

pronounced against you by the
Tribunal of the Holy Inquisition?

You may proceed.

Today, the 8th of February, 1600,

year of the jubilee,

we state, pronounce, decree,
sentence you, Giordano Bruno,

as an unrepentant, persistent
and obstinate heretic,

thus incurring ecclesiastic censorship,

and the punishments provided
for by the holy canons,

and as such, we verbally degrade
you from all major and minor orders,

and we expel you from
our ecclesiastic forum

and from our Holy Immaculate Church,

whose mercy you have not deserved.

Moreover, we condemn and forbid

all your books and writings
as heretic and erroneous,

and we order them to be
burned and destroyed in public,

in Saint Peter's Square,
before the Holy Steps,

and that they be added to
the Index of forbidden books.

We deliver you to the Governor of Rome, in
order for you to suffer your due punishments,

though effectively praying him

to take care of your person,

and not to suffer any
flesh nor limb mutilation.

You are more afraid than me.

According to procedure, the
sentence has been read...

- What did he say? - I didn't understand, madam. -
...before the accused, in Cardinal Madruzzi's house,

...placed in Navona Square,
by notary Flaminio Adriano,

and this is confirmed by the witnesses,

Francesco Pietrasanta and
Father Benedetto Mandina...

You are more afraid than me.

... who sign the written
records, after having certified...

its compliance to what has
been decided by this Tribunal.

You are more afraid than me.

What did he say?

You are more afraid than me.

He said: "you are more afraid than me".

He said: "you are more afraid than me".

It's been a beautiful ceremony,

but... how should I interpret
this encouragement to clemency?

That's not clear.

If I have to burn him at the
stake, why don't you say so?

Or if I have to spare him,
why don't you say so instead?

Governor,

from the moment when the Holy
Office delivers the prisoner

to the secular powers,
our task has ended.

Ecclesia ab horret a sanguine.
[The Church loathes blood.]

You will do as your conscience suggests.

"Tomorrow, you will have the
chance to attend the public show

"of the solemn execution
of a Dominican from Nola,

"persistent heretic, that last Wednesday,
in the house of Cardinal Madruzzi,

"was sentenced as the author
of sacrilegious statements,

"assertions that he subsequently
continued to support,

"and still does, although every
day theologians pay him visits.

"They say that this monk,

"has been to Geneva, Toulouse,

"Lyon, Paris and England,

"and then to Germany,

"from whence he returned to
Italy and was then arrested.

"They say that he has disputed
many times with Cardinal Belarmino.

"The poor fellow, if
God doesn't help him..."

- Mater potentissima.
- Ora pro nobis.

...persistent heretic,

will be burned... in
Campo dei Fiori Square...

- Mater Immacolata.
- Ora pro nobis.

- Mater intemerata.
- Ora pro nobis.

- Mater boni consili.
- Ora pro nobis.

...priests, Jesuits, Popes...

- Virgo prudentissima.
- Ora pro nobis.

- Virgo veneranda.
- Ora pro nobis.

- Virgo praedicanda.
- Ora pro nobis.

...monks, religions,

the Holy Trinity...

- Virgo fidelis.
- Ora pro nobis.

...the Church.

Hear, hear... the poor
fellow will be burned...

in Campo dei Fiori Square.

Publicly!

The Saints...

Subtitles by talpaleone and lordretsudo