Original subtitles

Be careful, my friend.

You too, my brother.

Out of the way!

Martin Luther!

STORM - LETTERS OF FIRE

The village ...

was at the top of the hill.

-Good morning sir. -Good Morning.

-Can you print this? -Of course.

I'll have it ready next week.

Thank you.

That's not good.

I had set up the whole page.

Those letters are now unusable.

I'll fix it.

No, I'll do it tonight. You can clean up and go home.

- Alwin. - Klaas.

Look at this.

But this is forbidden.

Yes, but someone has to do it.

I told you to clean up your mess.

Storm, my old friend.

I couldn't wait any longer, Klaas, This curiosity eats away at me.

Here it is.

Well?

POEMS Alwin Danker

Klaas Voeten. You really are ...

one of the best printers in this city.

Thank you my friend.

Did you help your father? Then I should thank you too, Storm.

No, thank Herman, he does all the hard work.

Alwin?

Assembly, printing, binding ... just 50 copies of your book ...

Is two weeks of work.

I'm not working, Klaas. I have no money, I'm sorry

Yes, but I can't live on air and love. I have a family.

The recording of words, phrases, language ...

printed text ... is a wonder for all of us,

the network of words seen and heard by all

is like a light that pierces the darkness.

This little volume should make me the most famous poet in Antwerp.

I'll pay you back the money owed with interest.

Go on, throw them into the fire!

No, no! Not my books!

Throw everything in.

Father!

No!

No, not that.

Not that one.

Father, no! Don't do it, Papa.

Father?

In the Market Square ...

They burned Gillis' books.

APPOINTED THE INQUISITOR: Frans Van der Hulst

They appointed Van der Hulst.

What is an Inquisitor?

It's ... an inquisitor is someone who conducts an investigation.

I think I saw him in front of Gillis' house.

What does he investigate?

He investigates whether or not people are good Catholics.

And the printer Gillis is not?

Of course he is.

But they burned his books. Why are they forbidden?

How should I know, Storm?

- Do you print forbidden books? - Of course not.

Mother, they burned all of Gillis the printer's books.

It was ordered by the new inquisitor. His hands were also burned.

How awful, my dear.

Storm, set the table.

What is this city coming to? All these valuable books ...

They must have good reason.

- Burning books is the real crime. - Not if the content offends God.

- I'm sure that God ... - You do not know the mind of God.

Our Father, Who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name,

thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses,

as we forgive those who trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.

No, no!

Lord, we are gathered here in thy presence

to worship thy name, oh sole and sovereign God.

Grant us wisdom, peace and piety.

And may the Lord forgive our transgressions. Amen.

Stop it.

Give generously ...

for the construction of the second tower of the Cathedral of Our Lady.

Have your sins erased and your time in Purgatory shortened.

Purchase a plenary indulgence signed by the Pope himself.

- Storm, how are you? - I have not seen you in a long time.

He is helping his father in the print shop. Everyday.

Have your sins forgiven. Shorten your time in Purgatory.

Signed by His Holiness the Pope of Rome.

Plenary Indulgences for sale.

- We're going home. - I want an Indulgence.

- They are very expensive. - Then Beatrice can go to heaven.

- See? Claar is buying one. - We are not. Let's go.

Storm, come ...

We have delicious apples!

Fresh grapes, red and white!

Wait here.

Do you want apples, ma'am?

Hey, you little brat. Stop, thief!

Stop him! Stop that thief!

Don't run away.

- Stop! - What's going on?

- He picked up an apple. - He stole an apple.

Klaas? It is an outrage,

the prices they dare to ask for those indulgences.

Martin Luther wants to abolish them.

All they do is to make the rich richer.

- What about the rest of us, the people? - Let's go home.

Come on, hurry up. Cecilia?

Lord, please, a penny. I beg you.

-You're not being reasonable. -I don't want my sister to suffer.

Beatrice was a good woman and surely she is already in heaven ...

... without us buying indulgences. -She'd do the same for us.

Do you really think that she'll get out of Purgatory faster just because you pay the Church?

-Do you want her to stay there forever? -No, but we cannot afford it.

Maybe you should stop printing for false friends who will not pay you.

I don't understand you. Alwin has had a bad influence on you.

That's ridiculous.

No!

Stop pestering me. These people are important to me. And Alwin, too.

Storm? Come in.

This book will make me famous.

It will spell the end of poverty for me.

And one day you'll be a successful printer.

Okay then ...

Speak. What's on your mind?

My parents. They are arguing a lot.

About what?

I don't know exactly.

The Church, indulgences. I think my father is against them.

Your father is absolutely right.

Who is Martin Luther?

A great thinker, who wants to change the Church.

His ideas are in here.

I'll lend it to you.

But it is forbidden, So don't show it to anyone.

BANS ON THE DOOR BY A CHRISTIAN

Wait.

Very good.

I'll be gone for awhile Continue helping Herman.

Brothers and sisters ...

Unfortunately, I bring bad news.

Our brother, Martin Luther, was arrested and excommunicated.

But this will not stop us from following his teachings ...

And resisting the cruelty of the Inquisition.

- What are you doing here? - Nothing.

I just ...

- Go back home. - Klaas ...

The boy is just curious, Klaas. You should be glad..

Don't breathe a word of this to anyone, not even your mother.

Guys, here they have the best sandwiches in Antwerp.

The smell of hot bread is like the breath of a young woman.

Her chest rising like freshly kneaded dough.

Follow my lead.

- Am I right? - Delicious.

Just like a poem.

Where did you get that?

- Did you give it to him? - What is it?

I found it.

It's blasphemous.

But Luther wrote it so we could think about it.

Don't say that name in my house.

Cecilia, don't worry. The boy is merely curious.

Is this Alwin's influence?

- Or is it you? - Cecilia, let it be.

There's only one, true belief, Storm.

Anyone who thinks otherwise is wrong ...

and will call misfortune down upon himself and his loved ones.

Cecilia!

Emperor Charles the fifth ...

... will soon honor Antwerp with a visit.

The Inquisition will be intensified.

I will enact more severe measures ...

to eradicate heresy once and for all.

I want this city to become a paragon of virtue and devotion.

Be careful. Very good.

Yes, it's in there good. Well done.

- I'll get it. - Storm, wait.

Brother.

Can I speak to you privately?

Yes of course.

Back to work.

Herman, you may leave.

Right now? So early? Why? Did I do something wrong?

No, you do good work. That's why you deserve a day off.

Thank you.

What are you printing for that man?

Go home. Your mother might need help.

Let me help. This work is much more important.

All right, you can help me.

Tell your mother I have to finish an important order.

Tell her it has to be finished by tomorrow.

Give her this money to buy

an indulgence for Aunt Beatrice.

And keep her away from the shop.

Yes?

One please.

Dad forgets to eat when he works so hard.

You're right. Will you take this to him?

We thought that you might be hungry.

Martin Luther? What manuscript is that?

- Thanks for the nice food, but go home Storm. - It's forbidden.

Open up in the name of the Inquisition.

Open the door!

Get out of here, Storm.

Storm, you need to leave.

Open it!

Break down the doors. Stand back.

Go home, Storm. Hurry up!

- Where is it? - Bailiff...

- Where is the type set? - Those letters have already been archived.

Liar. As if you printed just one copy.

Stop!

Get out of the way.

After the assistant!

Over there.

Mr. Van der Hulst?

We believe the assistant ran away. with the printing rack for the letter...

This letter must never be printed.

Ever.

POEMS

Where have you been?

There was a raid. The legal authorities. They arrested father.

Holy Mother of God, No!

Mrs. Voeten, open the door.

Oh no, the bailiff's men.

- What are you doing? - I have to leave.

Why do you have this rack?

-Open, in the name of the law! -Where are you going?

- Open in the name of the law. - Wait.

This will protect you. Be careful.

Open this door immediately!

- Mom? - Come here.

- Where is your son? - I sent him on an errand.

Has something happened to him?

Everything will be fine.

Open it!

Alwin Dankers, open the door.

Herman?

Are you in here?

Herman?

Watch where you're going boy!

Get his things. His bag!

Thank you.

No!

I just need the printer' rack.

It's inside.

It's wrapped in cloth.

It's really important.

Can you read letters?

Do you live here alone?

For a long time?

Thank you.

My name is Storm. Storm Voeten.

My father was arrested by the authorities last night.

And now they're looking for me. I can't go home.

- Did you steal this thing for reading? - No, I'm not a thief.

This rack belongs to my father. He's a printer.

It's a very important letter.

Our Assistant Printer was murdered because of this.

I really must leave.

- What do you want from me? - Nobody can know I live here.

I won't tell anyone, I swear.

Please, I need to get help for my father.

And where will you go?

To find a friend. He might be in the Church of St. Andrew.

I know how to get there. Under the ground.

Come.

Sorry to disturb you, sir.

The printer's assistant was found and interrogated.

He offered some resistance.

So we eliminated him.

And the print rack?

He also has a son, Storm Voeten. Perhaps he has ...

What are you waiting for?

Find him and eradicate this nest of heretics.

Where are we?

- Aren't we going to St. Andrew's Church? - Later.

I'm not going in there. This is the church that ordered the arrest of my father.

And the murder of Herman.

Hey! Girl!

He gave it to me.

Well, I took it, to be honest. He wants me to take him to St. Andrews.

And he's got this letter thing with him. He knows how to read.

Do you always steal candles from the church?

Yes. And next time I come, Mary will have new ones.

- She always helps everyone. - Why didn't she help my father?

Do you still want to go to St. Andrews?

Aren't you afraid of Purgatory, with all your stealing?

Or do you also steal money for indulgences?

No.

The market is up there. We're close to my mother.

- Where's your mother, anyway? - Dead.

- What about your father? - Alive.

- Why doesn't he take care of you? - Because he cannot.

My father is a sailor.

When he returns, he's going to have a lot of money.

He will buy a house where we'll live together.

Girls.

Cecilia ...

Do you have news from Klaas?

He's in jail awaiting trial.

They won't tell me where they're keeping him.

All the printers are talking about it.

Where's Storm?

I don't know. He's gone away.

Gone away? What do you mean?

Tell me.

He has a rack with type set. The authorities are looking for him.

He must have thrown it away. Storm is not crazy.

No, but he's stubborn.

Can you make it?

It's over there.

Can't you take me there underground?

No, we can't get any closer.

What if the inquisitor's men are there?

Make sure they do not recognize you.

- Your jacket. - What about my jacket?

If you give it to me, I will help you.

Here it is.

Well, I have to go.

- You're coming with me? - Of course.

Act normal. Don't hide your face.

Brother Luther often told me ...

The Bible contains God's own words. It is sufficient to just read those words.

... And to serve him. It was never his intention for us ...

to worship the bones of the saints.

- What a dreary place... - Or to worship the Pope of Rome.

Mary was just an ordinary woman who gave birth to Jesus Christ.

- Who are you looking for? - Alwin, a friend.

Which is why her statues should disappear from the churches of our Lord.

Love delights in the righteous and rejoices with the truth.

It protects us, gives us faith and hope, and allows us to persevere

Love never ceases where the prophecies will fail.

Arrest him.

You are disturbing my service.

These meetings are henceforth, banned under penalty of arrest.

Or worse!

by the order of the Inquisitor General.

Out!

Storm?

What is this?

You!

Stop!

Get him!

Faster.

Stop!

Get out of the way!

Take my hand.

Come on!

They really are looking for you.

The rack for Luther's letter.

I told you. It's gone.

Blown by the wind?

Or a storm, rather?

No sir. I swear to you ...

Sir, I beg you ...

Rest assured that we will find your son.

I saw Storm.

Why did that priest want all statues removed from the churches?

Because Luther teaches that.

That's stupid.

It's best that you stay here for a while.

No one will find you here.

- Did you steal it? - No.

It belonged to my mother.

She wrote a sort of of journal for me.

Will you read some of it for me?

Sunday, November 18, 1514.

Dear Marieke ...

Keep going.

Winter has come early. I made the coat you are now wearing from an old blanket.

You walk proudly like a peacock. My brave, beautiful little daughter.

July 10, 1507. The most beautiful day of the year.

A Portuguese ship docked today.

... with your father on board.

One year later, I was born.

My father is the most beautiful man in Portugal.

And the best sailor in the world.

Has he been sailing for a long time?

Yes, for a long time.

For years.

- Why for so long? - He wants to discover a new world.

Just like Columbus.

- What is it? - Nothing.

- Why don't you continue? - I don't want to.

Please ...

What it says here ...

is not nice.

Are you sure?

Yes.

Winter 1516.

You are eight years old, but still

so small and vulnerable, my love.

I should tell you that your father ...

the love of my life ...

perished.

A storm swept him into the sea.

But I can't speak this horrible truth. Forgive me ...

for letting you believe that he's still alive.

You're lying. It doesn't say that.

It does. That's what your mother wrote.

Where are you going? Marieke?

Marieke, wait.

Wait.

Go away. Leave me alone.

What was his name?

Alfonso.

He left on a ship like that.

My mother and I waved goodbye to him.

This is how you write his name.

This is the letter A.

Will you teach me to read?

Klaas has two a's.

Mr. Van der Hulst ...

Brother Proost was interrogated and he confessed.

He'll be sentenced to be burned at the stake in the Market Square in two days.

My dear Lord, Brother Proost has a lot of followers in the city.

This may cause rioting.

Let's execute a different heretic then.

B...

E...

This is ...

- a 'V.' - Yes, very good.

- And this is ... - U.

- Not quite. - So 'E?'

That is correct. So what is the whole word?

- Beloved ... - Yes, that's right.

Voeten. Storm Voeten.

You're right.

You have ten fingers.

What are you doing?

It's floating out to sea.

To your father.

Here, his name is on it. I read it myself. Voeten.

EXECUTION

What's wrong?

My father... tomorrow, in the Market Square...

- What? - He's been condemned to death.

- You must go and see your father. - Impossible.

Nothing is impossible.

Come on, let's go.

This way.

- Where are we going? - I think I know where he is.

- Wait here. - Why?

- What is that? - This will take us to your father.

Over there. You see?

Can I have my ham now?

Give it to me. Thank you.

Papa? Klaas Voeten?

Papa, are you there?

Klaas? Klaas Voeten?

Storm? Storm?

- Papa? - Storm, I'm here.

Papa ...

- Who is she? - Marieke, she's hiding me.

- Hiding? Why? - They're after me, also.

They killed Herman.

I'll be out of here soon.

Papa, you have to escape.

Marieke will help us. Papa, how can we get you out?

It's impossible, Storm.

Nothing is impossible. I still have the rack with Luther's letter.

The rack? Get rid of it, it's too dangerous.

- I can use it to save you. - Don't even think about it.

The inquisitor absolutely wants to have it.

You'll never succeed, Storm. You can't do that.

Yes I can.

Storm, it will be alright.

Go away. Get out of here!

Get rid of the rack!

I know I can do this.

Alwin.

Storm, thank God you're not hurt.

- Who is she? - Marieke. She helped me.

I've been looking for you everywhere.

Why has your father been condemned to death?

What did he do?

He printed a letter from Martin Luther.

I have the rack.

Really? Boy, do you know what that means?

The inquisitor wants it.

If Luther's last letter is printed and his followers read it...

- They will rise up against the Inquisitor. - This is what the inquisitor want to prevent at all costs.

Storm, let me help you. Where is the rack?

It's safely hidden ...

I'll go pick it up and bring it to you.

- Good. Where? - The Cathedral of Our Lady.

- This is our only chance. - I'll be there in an hour.

Be careful.

Don't do this.

- What? - Don't go.

I'm going. I have to save my father.

- What's your problem? - I don't trust that man.

- Alwin? Why not? - How does he know of the Inquisitor?

Everyone in Antwerp knows about the Inquisitor. But you wouldn't know that.

You can't even read.

- You are so ... - Alwin is trying to help me.

I want to help you too.

No, that's a lie. You're afraid ...

Luther will force the churches to remove all the statues,

your beloved Mary too.

She's more important to you than my father's life.

That's not true!

That's all you care about.

Move aside!

Storm ...

Did you bring it?

Martin Luther ...

Well done, my son. Well done.

How do we publish it?

Come on. Alwin?

Mr. Inquisitor.

- Alwin? - Excellent work, Dankers.

Please, spare my father's life.

You have the rack. I beg you.

I promise he'll never print ...

... forbidden texts again. Please sir.

Sir. You said that you'd let him go.

A heretic? As the new poet of the city you'll be a rich man.

Why bother about a boy?

Get those children!

Open that door!

They're coming.

Come on.

This was once my home.

You were right about Alwin.

Your statue of the Virgin Mary is destroyed.

And it's all my fault.

Mary helped us.

The rack with the letter is gone.

I missed my chance to save my father.

Do you have the rack?

If Luther's last letter is printed and his followers read it ...

-They'll rise up against the Inquisitor. -That's What he wants to prevent at all costs.

The letter ...

I still have it!

The letter must be printed. We have to find a print shop.

Why don't we do it ourselves? You're the son of a printer.

Yes, but the print shop was ransacked.

And there are guards outside.

And I'm not strong enough.

I'll help you.

Give me your knife.

- This here? - Yes.

TO ALL DEAR PEOPLE OF ANTWERP

What does it say?

To all dear people of Antwerp who believe in Christ.

I write this letter to give you the strength to resist the darkness.

I know the Catholic Church detests me.

They accuse me of wanting to abolish many rituals. The rosaries, psalms ...

the saints and their images. And they are right.

The only holy truth is faith.

Don't believe anyone except Jesus Christ.

No man or object can replace him.

The Pope of Rome is just a mortal who leads a perverse, decadent church ...

... where people pay for redemption.

Only Jesus Christ can redeem us.

God comes to us through faith alone.

God is light. God is love. Indugences do not help you reach the kingdom of heaven.

On the contrary, by helping others you will come closer to God.

Rise up against the cruel Inquisition.

Stand against the melomaniacal church that uses terror to oppress you

Do not follow the religious tyranny

of rulers and their inquisitors.

Don't be intimidated by the Church. We should be free in our faith.

Join your hands and stand against injustice. Do it today ...

and not a day later. SIGNED, MARTIN LUTHER

Spread the word. Tell everyone about it.

Cecilia?

Be ready.

Out of the way! clear the path.

Clear the way!

Out of the way.

Out of the way.

This is my father!

He did nothing wrong. He just printed a letter from Luther.

And he will be killed for it.

By that man!

Why do you allow him to be so cruel?

Get him!

There are hundreds of you.

Do something!

Come on, he's right, do something!

Let's go!

Mother.

Come on, hurry up.

We have to leave.

Hurry up, we have to go.

Here, Storm, take this.

It's heavy.

Thanks for everything.

- Brave girl. - We have to go.

Come here.

Come on, Storm.

- Storm? - Storm, are you coming?

WÜRTTEMBERG - 1 year later

VOETEN AND SON PRINT SHOP

How are you? Your book is ready.

Great, thank you.

Exceptional. You really are the best printers in Württemberg.

- Well, I have a great partner. - Thank you very much.

And my sweet assistant.

Subtitles by Theriot@Theriot2018