Original subtitles

L'UOMO DALLA CROCE (THE MAN WITH THE CROSS)

I'm leaving.

Going to see how they're doing with our tank. What time is it?

- Five thirty-five - Five thirty-five...

Right, let's go.

Hey, you deadbeats! When will our tank be ready?

Yeah, yeah, in an hour it'll be done. Is Ciantera with you?

But I warn you, if you ruin the engine again I'll whack you with this.

And that's is a whack I'd love to give, It's an English wrench!

Yeah, yeah, alright.

Yeah, make fun while you can, deadbeats!

Listen to him! Your tank is stuck yet again!

And that other slacker you were with?

They're melting him in prison for irritating all those women.

- Let's go and find him. - There are women around here?

- Such women! There's Voroshilov... - What's Voroshilov got to do with this?

Nothing, she's a Russian blonde, tall, with huge boobs.

I know her! She lives in that farmhouse close to the stone mine.

They call her "Voroshilov"...

... because she's had more soldiers than Voroshilov himself!

- Yeah, you make a good chicken! - We should break your neck!

- Nice and quick! - Who are you trying to fool?

Where are you going? You can't go through here.

Yeah, you wait until someone really comes.

News on those who are out? What do they say at the camp?

Nobody knows anything. The major's been in R.T. since this morning, he hasn't moved.

And you don't give a damn. You're happy at home without worries.

He's like the Count of Monte Cristo with this duty of his.

Did they treat you nice in prison? And when did you lay your eggs?

What makes you think you're so special? I've only been out for 5 hours.

Remember what happened to Soroka? We kept in touch for 14 hours.

I'll ask the Chaplain, he always knows.

Who says that we won't?

The Russians down here in front don't have tanks...

.. and we've been harassing the air fore for two days in a row.

I told you so!

There has to be something serious happing if they're all moving together.

Hey, guys! Look what I've got for you!

Take a look!

- We need to see the Chaplain. - What shall I do with the chickens? - Come on!

Here we are. Ask him how things are going.

Why me? You students like to talk.

- You wanted to know before! - Can't you see that he's busy?

Come forward, boys. Come forward!

We saw the planes go over...

If it's not so much to ask, we were wondering...

We've been here for...

- Are you returning from leave? - No, but...

We've been here... our tank is being repaired, everything was fine...

The we saw those planes and now we don't know what to think!

I don't understand. Down there...

Do you know how things are going for our boys?

- There's no news. - I'm sure it's going fine, like always.

Maybe they found something to attack, but I'm sure everything is fine.

How long has it been since you received news from home? Are you married?

- No, Sir. - And you?

- Yes Sir, with a son and another.. - Good. Come on, now..

Off you go. Always write home.

I urge you : our soliders in Italy...

... always need to hear your voices.

For everything else, God will watch over you. Good day.

- Nothing? - Nothing.

Shh, quiet!

No, no, nothing. I'm hearing things.

Where do you think the others from our class are?

Don't you remember? Pompili, Volpi, Calderai...

I saw them in town and met them once or twice...

Hey, Sjuda! Hey, Sjuda!

Yeah, Sjuda!

Careful, these people know a lot.

They follow the line down. Hear things and pass them on.

Are you coming?

Hey, Russkij. Yes, "co-co-co", "co-co-co"?

I don't understand.

I give you cigarettes, you give me "co-co".

I don't understand.

Get out of it, you've a head like a melon. I'll explain it.

What he means to say is "egg". "Co-co-co", "co-co-co", "co-co-co".

Do you understand, yes or no?

Ah! There they are! Pay up, pay up!

- So? Did you scrape together much? - Nothing. They had nothing.

- What's the time? - 5 minutes to 7.

5 minutes ago I told you that it was 10 to 7.

So, do you think when you go home you're going to continue studying?

Shh!

Yeah, if there are special exams. No way I'm studying that hard again.

No, I'm not hearing things. They're coming back!

There they are, look!

They're back!

The parrot that flew the nest...

... just like the Carnevale of Viareggio... - We're carrying wounded here, cut it out!

Over here doctor, someone is wounded.

A stretcher!

Easy does it, easy does it.

Good day.

The commander of the division has ordered us to begin moving again, right away...

Take this.

... to reach, as quickly as possible the zone including the 45th kilometre...

and 47th kilometre of the carriageway. Here you go, precisely... here.

To intercept the column of enemy forces

.. and order the transportation of troops close to the 46th kilometer.

We leave in ten minutes.

Refuel as soon as you can. We're leaving!

But we can't leave! This man must stay here.

He can't be transported.

It looks like his head has probably truck the side of the tank.

And seems to be in shock for the fracture at the base.

He can't leave. He must stay here.

Go and inform the Major. Come closer.

- Major, Sir... - Good day.

- There is a wounded man who can't be transported. - Is it serious? - Yes. - Let's see.

How's he doing?

He's in shock, perhaps because of the concussion.

It's probably a fracture at the base of the cranium, you can't transport him.

- I can't take responsibility... - But everyone must leave.

But Sir, Major, if we take him he will surely die.

If he doesn't come to his senses, he cannot move.

Put up a tent with the Red Cross symbol. I'll stay here with the wounded man.

- Major, everything is ready to leave. - Yes, I'm coming.

Dear Chaplain...

... do you know what will happen if you stay? - Yes.

I'm very grateful.

Chicco...

Rossi...

Father!

I'm here, my Son, calm down.

- What time is it? - It will be around 9 o'clock.

9 o'clock?

Father...

- Father, I want to see the stars. - Yes, my Son, calm yourself now.

- Let me see... - Calm down. - ... the sky.

- Calm... - Quickly now, quickly.

Every night at this hour, I watch for the first star from the tank.

My wife and my son gaze at them also.

Halt! Take him away, he may have information.

The order of attack has arrived...

.. and I have called you here to verify the orders you have been given previously.

Our battalion has been reinforced with morters, with artillery...

... with armoured tanks, with 47/32 cannons and with flamethrowers.

We need to occupy the village over there, or if possible go beyond it.

From aerial reconnaissance, from the interrogation of prisoners...

... and from the information of our patrols...

... it appears that the enemy is organising a defence in front of and behind the village.

The attack will begin at 17:00.

Official time now: 15:11.

The attack will be preceded by intense aerial bombardment...

... and bombardment from our artillery.

Objective of the attack, I have already given.

The armoured tanks will stay in position to anticipate the movements of the enemy...

... and shall be ready to intervene depending on how things develop.

- Wow, what a bang! - That's nothing!

You'll see what the Russians hear from us. Now that's a bang!

Now you will go.

stay close to your unit and your weapon...

... and as always, good luck!

We will give your orders on the village at the last possible moment.

Gentlemen, attention!

- What unit are you from? - 81st infantry, Torino division..

- And whereabouts are you from? - Perugia.

- What was your profession? - Farmer.

- Are you a doctor? - No.

- Do you speak Russian? - Yes.

What regiment are you from?

I said : "What regiment are you from?"

How long have you been on the front line?

If you don't speak, I'll loosen your tongue! What regiment?!

My regiment doesn't have a number.

It doesn't have a number, it has a sign; this...

Search them.

Search them well.

Oh, look!

He's a necromancer. A catholic witch-docter, this is his amulet.

An amulet? Why don't you exorcize him? Maybe he can heal your eczema.

- What's your name? - And what unit were you assigned to?

What are the intentions of your Commander?

The international laws give me the right to not respond.

The necromancer is right.

.. The international laws give him the right to not respond, but...

But they also forbid you from giving incorrect responses...

.. and thus, deceiving us.

Which is punishable by execution.

Why did you leave forty prisoners to die of hunger last week?

I know nothing of the prisoners you speak.

Every day you come to our line, your soldiers...

... people who cannot live like that.

Often we give them our own rations.

- They always admit that our soldiers are compassionate. - Excellent!

All of your are testimony to this propaganda against the Soviet Union.

This is not allowed by the international laws.

We have the right to defend ourselves...

.. against those who disregard our unity and our faith.

A man of faith tells the truth, not propaganda.

- In War the only truth is which side is more powerful. - Look here.

- You're registered with the Fascist party? - That membership card is mine.

- Ah! It's you who is registered with the Fascist party? - Yes Sir.

For us you are not a regular soldier.

We consider you an agitator, an instigator.

In this case, we have the right to exterminate all enemies of Communism.

- Unless you would prefer to renounce. Will you sign here? - I'm not signing anything.

Take him away.

Father! Father!

Have you seen how we deal with irregulars? Now we shall deal with you.

- Begin preparing the artillery. - Yes Sir!

Fire!

Stay calm, my Son.

- Father... - What is it? - I can't go on much longer.

You're fine, stay calm now.

We will take refuge in that house. Our soldiers are close.

I will retie your bandage so that you feel better, eh?

At least you'll be out of danger.

I need water.

Do you have water?

I don't know, I'm not from here. Outside there is a well, but they're shooting.

I can take a look.

There's just this.

Are you a doctor?

Yes, I can be a doctor if it's needed. But by sign is this one.

Christ, Christ...

- And you, why haven't you escaped? - We came here from the steppe.

We came to the village in search of a doctor.

- She will give birth any moment. - Ah...

- We barely survived. - And these children?

This one is mine. The others, I don't know.

Down, quickly!

- Forward and support! - Forward, forward!

Fire! Fire!

More to the left! More to the left! Still more to the left!

To the left, to the left!

Sergei! Sergei!

- What is it? - I'm coming with you. - Come on then.

Machine gun, here! Don't move! Follow me.

Quickly! Quickly!

Don't move.

- Two soldiers in there. - I'll go.

- There's another window. Let me see. - Nonsense!

Be careful Sergei! Be Careful!

"Eleventh company reports: Because of enemy resistance...

... it's impossible to proceed with orders."

"Tenth company reports:

Enemy resistance to the left of village. Proceeding with caution".

Tell the 81st mortars to alter their aim...

... in favour of the tenth company. - Yes Sir!

Signal to the mortar division...

... to help out the tenth company. - Yes Sir!

- Help out the tenth company! - Received! - Okay.

Right, fire on target number one.

Heavy bombs. Instant charge number three. Four cannons.

- Attention! - Take this.

Fire on target number one.

Heavy bombs.

Instant charge number three. Four cannons. Fire!

Tarocco...

... Take this to the Commander of the tenth company.

- Careful: it is urgent and important. - Yes Sir!

Concentrate the artillery fire at the front of the village...

... to protect the movement of the armoured tanks.

Yes, hello?

In front of the armoured tanks.

- Objective direction, noted. - Right away.

Okay! Start your engines!

Medic!

Take him to the hospital tent.

Men, report to me!

I've just received this communication from the Commander of the battalion...

..."Russian resistance is particularly strong in front of and inside the village.

As soon as the armoured tanks have overcome enemy troops...

... begin movement to cover the left side of the village.

And push behind to prevent any influx of enemy reinforcements."

Easy, guys. Easy, get down on the ground.

Okay. Bonini!

Okay, direct the troops to the armoured tanks over on the left. Yes.

Protect this movement with a diversion using grenades and smoke grenades.

We need to get inside that house.

Hand me a smoke grenade.

Quickly, quickly!

Watch out! Go!

Go!

Get down!

Follow me, quickly!

Watch out!

- Sergei! - Hands up!

Sergei!

- Get down, now! - Sergei! Sergei!

Down!

- Suriano, my Son! - Chaplain...

- What happened? - They blew up my tank.

Corporal! Careful, stay below the wall!

Corporal, Suriano.

There's a woman who's about to give birth. We need to make up a place for her in the stable.

If you're able, lend a hand.

We'll make up a barricade inside to protect them. Take that weapon.

- Capone! - Yes, yes?

Help her, set her up in the stable. You, go too.

Our troops have confirmed that the Russians are holding out.

And they are fortifying the village.

- The children! - We're caught in the middle!

We'll wait until tomorrow morning and then show those bastards!

Hands up!

Quick, the bandage!

- Partner, what happened to you? - They blew up my tank.

Oh, it hurts! It hurts so much.

We need to do something. To get out of here.

In that corner there are weapons, hidden.

Now, as soon as the moon rises...

Chaplain, do you think perhaps we can try to reach our troops?

Yes, perhaps you can reach them. You can try, but I'm staying here.

- There are wounded, women, chldren. - Shh, then we are staying with you.

- Who goes there? - Who goes there?

- Bersagliere Scagliarini Dante. - I'm the Chaplain

Ah, is that you, Chaplain?

- Where did you come from? - My engine broke down.

I was just returning to the line when, Christ, I saw them.

It was a Russian patrol and there was nothing we could do.

I could already see the Siberia when this guy signalled to escape.

Me running, and him just behind.

The others were running for their lives from the cannon fire.

We dove into a hole and he looked at me and said:

"I'm not Russian, comrade".

When a grenade... It didn't do anything to me.

But him... I think he's badly hurt.

- How will you help him, we can't see. - The moon has just come up, right now.

- How are you feeling, Son? - Better. Much better now.

Hand me the bandage.

Take this.

Nothing, nothing. Now I feel much more calm.

I wasn't resisting down there.

There are lots that aren't resisting any more, down there.

Take it, here.

You see? It's my membership card for the anti-Bolshevik party of Georgia.

Coward. Traitor.

We can't trust anyone.

- What are they? - Seeds.

What would you do if they gave us permission for weekend leave?

- A pass? How is that possible? - I know, but what if?

- I'd get drunk. - Don't say that, be serious.

Why? What can we do that's better?

Yeah, we could get drunk. But think about it...

... there are so many nice girls, no?

Where's the little boy?

- What's that? - It's the dog. It must be hurt.

We need to shut him up. We need to shut him up!

- I can't stand it. - Calm down.

Poor thing.

Take him to the child, go on.

Come on now, don't cry. Look who it is!

- Here's your Tet�! - See how beautiful he is?

- That was a lucky escape, you know? - True!

Look, look, give him a stroke.

Look out.

For me?

- What's your name? - Iegor.

Sit down.

- How old are you? - I can say 15 because I'm 14 and 10 months.

You look older. You're really almost a man.

Iegor...

.. I saw straight away that you're the only intelligent one here.

I thought: "This intelligent guy...

".. will know what to do with these stupid men, even if I don't".

- Understand me? - What... weapons?

You really are intelligent. Listen...

Revolver.

Revolver.

Panojo, Panojo.

Panojo, the children...

Go.

Can I help you?

Can I do anything for you?

Are you suffering much?

Soon we'll be free.

- Give me that gun. - No.

- But you're in no condition to... - Say it with me...

... "The Father..." No. Not like that.

"The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen."

Listen...

... pass me that gun and lay down just here.

- As soon as the opportunity arises we'll help you to escape.

- See... - No. I'm holding the gun...

... Irina. - How do you know my name?

- That's of no interest to you. - Beyrov? - Exactly!

Don't move I say! Or I'll kill you.

What a pleasant surprised. To find all three of you together.

Panojo, Panojo!

She gave birth to a boy. The Mother is asking for you to baptize him.

Dawn is close, they'll begin firing again.

- Quick, give me a container. - What are you doing?

I'm going to take water to baptize the child.

Have you looked outside?

- At dawn they'll start shooting again. - What will happen to him? - Let's go.

Sergei!

Sergei!

- Sergei! - Leave him here. God have mercy on his soul.

- Father, you can't go out there. - Do you know what will happen as soon as the dawn breaks?

It is my duty to baptize a creature of God.

My coat. Quickly, bring the child to me, over by the wardrobe.

The child, quickly!

- What name have you chosen? - Nicola.

- And you? - Antonio.

I baptize you, Nicola, Antonio.

In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Sergei, it's over... It's over.

Oh, Sergei...

And these are alive.

He was strong and simple.

Was...

I felt so proud to be his companion.

Sergei... Sergei!

You! You awful, awful man. Two times now you've ruined my life!

If we get out of here, you'll see! I'll kill you, you evil woman!

Comrades, do you see this man? Do you see this traitor...

... who killed a Commissioner in front of the enemy?

For this you will pay! You will pay!

You'll pay, without mercy...

... in front of these who are against us in War...

... to put us once again in the blood, the poison of their rhetoric...

... To put us down once again as brutes, blind, deaf, fatalists...

... To choke us with their superstitions!

You will pay with your life!

You will pay ... with your life!

Take some water.

Some water?

Not like this.

Not an enemy. I'm not an enemy.

I am a minister of God...

... who is the Father of all men...

... and even if they are hostile they are all brothers in his eyes.

I know, you loath them all, but you haven't lost.

Don't turn off the light just because they close their eyes.

God will never lose you.

If you could feel his presence here in your heart, as I do...

... now you wouldn't feel dead inside.

Because you feel as though you have died with your Sergei.

See, when you have an empty heart, when you are tired and desperate...

... you'll suddenly experience this feeling of relief wash over you...

... just like that, without explanation.

That's him, God, who quietly enters your empty and tired heart.

If you cry, he cries with you. I know.

I lost my mother, who for me was the best thing about this world.

And before, my father...

I was 4 years old...

... My father was the manager of a factory in Machiuka...

... he fought in the revolution...

... struggled for a better life for all the people he loved.

Then came the years of terror, of hunger, of misery.

They had to destroy everything, levelled it all off and then rebuilt it.

My mother was a bourgeois, the daughter of a merchant.

She didn't understand.

She couldn't understand my father. She didn't have his strength.

I barely remember her.

She was small, blonde, fragile and timid...

... as timid as a deer.

She didn't have the strength to live in that way with such savagery all around.

So she lost the will to live.

I don't know what happened.

In the end she was just too weak.

Your mother wasn't weak, she was humble.

And those who are humble hold the strength of truth.

My father used to beat me a lot but I wouldn't see him often, he was always busy.

The party took up almost all of his time.

I was 13 when he brought home this woman, my new stepmother, just 3 years older than me.

Which meant I lost the comfort of waiting for him to come home.

I enrolled in university...

... which was then coordinated by the political party.

But all of that bourgeois romance...

... that I inherited from my mother, it suffocated me...

So I tried to find refuge in the love of this man's company.

And came to the conclusion that a man can love a woman in many ways.

He can love her like he loves a glass of liquor on a winter's evening.

He can love her out of some wicked instinct...

... or in the same way he loves the meat of game birds...

... and can kill for her if this flavour is taken away.

This is why I loved him.

He took me away day by day, hour by hour!

I knew Sergei so well.

He took me with him.

Yes, he took me with him, for him. Purely and simply.

And now he is dead...

You cannot say this. He may well be alive at this moment...

... and your life has not yet begun.

Nobody can live without hope, but now you are desperate.

But the Lord doesn't have mercy for desperation.

Look inside, listen to your heart.

You cannot give up. You cannot believe that he is truly gone.

And God will tell you. And God will urge you.

But if he was a man with goodness in his soul, then he is never truly gone.

Before you give up you must shout, and you must plead with him.

The Lord is always listening to you, up there in heaven.

The Lord, who died on the cross for you, for your Sergei.

Sergei, Sergei...

God says to you:

..."Bless those who cry for they must be consoled"

If I said to you that Sergei is waiting somewhere on earth...

... you would cross seas and climb mountains just to see him again.

Don't you understand that God is always watching over you...

... poor creatures who endure a storm of misery and hate?

Your prayers speak to him.

God will help us! Have mercy on us! Help us!

They're firing!

Get back! Scagliarini!

Scagliarini!

Quick, move the wounded this way. Come on! Quick, hurry up!

Faster, faster!

Panojo! Panojo!

Scagliarini, make a stretcher for that woman.

Men, all of you here. All of you gather around.

Now, we go again. I know that you're strong and brave. Do not hesitate.

Think of your mother.

She is praying for you and feels your heart beating inside.

Think of the Holy Mary, Queen of victory. She will help you.

Men, onward! Follow me!!

Cease fire!

Sergeant! Take your men!

You! Evil! Evil woman!

Help! Help! Panojo! Panojo!

Save yourselves, in the name of God! God has mercy on your souls.

Evil witch! I hate you!

Quick!

I'm scared! I'm scared! I'm...

You are forgiven. Don't be afraid. Soon I will be with you.

Repeat with me:

"Our Father, who art in heaven..."

"Our Father, who art in heaven".

- "hallowed be thy Name". - "hallowed be thy Name".

- "thy kingdom come". - "thy kingdom come".

- "thy will be done". - "thy will be done".

This film is dedicated to the memory of all the Military Chaplains who died in a Holy War against those without God.

In defence of their country and in order to bring the light of truth and justice, even to the land of the enemy.

THE END