Original subtitles

They call me Flaxa Mildväder.

When it's cold and snowing I stay inside...

...but when I pass through the village, everyone knows the cold is over.

I weave rugs, and in the pattern I see what awaits the people in the village.

One day I saw a great darkness in the fabric.

It all started on the other side of the Forgetting River...

... in the Manor in Wishing City.

The Ruler and his Lady lived there.

He loved nothing more than to fulfill her wishes...

... hoping to hear the words 'thank you'.

One day the Lady said: I wish children.

Now she will be very grateful to me, the Ruler thought.

Perfect.

And he ordered the old coachman to look for two children.

It had to be a boy and a girl.

What does the fabric tell?

One day Kloke (Wise), my raven, flies to the source of Wisdom.

Kloke has a day eye that sees the light and good in life...

...and a night eye that sees the dark and evil.

But no eye can see too deeply into the Fountain of Wisdom.

This is how Kloke lost his night eye.

I know why: Nana.

We're not allowed to go there. - Just not all the way.

I don't want to. I want to go to Dad.

That comes later.

Look, Klas.

There's nothing to it.

Look, walking a tightrope. - What?

Tightrope walking.

Someone comes onto the market who can walk...

That's Flaxa Mildväder's raven. - I know.

What a strange eye. - He lost that.

No.

Yes.

Kloke only sees what is light and cheerful.

No more sad things.

He also sees the future with his day eye, just like Flaxa.

Father! Father!

Kloke and I live on the Executioner's Hill, under the oldest apple tree in the village.

So Kloke, what does your eye see? Something new?

I warned you.

Now that darkness is approaching, you miss your night eye. Do you hear that?

Nana approaches. Time is running out.

Not yet. We must be happy while we can.

I am happy! Happy! - This isn't working.

Wise is he who dares to see the dark sides.

He has become half-blind and superficial.

What I don't see, I hear.

Yes, I hear well. Good hearing, bad vision.

We must be happy, happy, happy. We must be happy.

It's the children.

It's the children, Kloke.

As many heads have rolled on that hill as apples have fallen from the tree.

That is not to be trifled with.

Don't go there again, Klara.

In the past, people were beheaded there. - Why?

As punishment for doing evil.

Only a witch and a crazy raven want to live on Executioner's Hill.

This will be my best one.

Look.

Look, look!

Klas.

Be calm.

Father can blow a new vase. It does not matter.

I can make a new one.

Sofia, Sofia.

What is it?

You have to take him over. - Has glass broken?

Run to your mother. I have to move on.

I don't know what is wrong with him. - Oh sweet boy.

Glass can break. It's so fragile.

The kids.

The darkness grows around the glassblower...

...and his children.

What is it? Are you crying?

I feel so lonely, Albert.

You're never home.

Not even in the evening.

I'm working on a bowl.

The most beautiful one I've ever made.

I have to finish it, so have a little patience. - I do, but I know how it goes.

Then comes an even better one, and another, and it keeps on going all the time.

You're never done and I'm always alone.

You have the kids, right? - They're just a nuisance.

Be careful of what you're saying, Sofia. Stop now.

Brash words that Sofia didn't mean...

...but would still repent.

Fellow countrymen!

It costs nothing to watch! Here you will find glass of all types.

Glass that shines like silver and gold...

...and costs less than a bag of potatoes.

So Albert, at the autumn market again with your works of art?

They're beautiful, Albert.

You will see that things are going well.

Here we have a little pig. Have you ever seen such a chubby piglet?

Top quality glassware. Beautiful hand blown pigs.

This is where you need to be.

Sir, give your wife something shiny to look at...

... now that you are old and gray yourself!

Or maybe you want a hip flask? Then you will become red instead of gray.

The strongest man in the world: Strong Adolf!

Klara!

Look!

Wouldn't you like a hip flask for tonight's dancing?

The last hip flask.

You can't just disappear. - I'm hungry.

What do we do now?

Can I have some from you, Klara?

We can't even afford this here. Or the cart.

Albert, what should we do now? What are we supposed to live on?

Klara, why did that tightrope walker fall?

Why not make glassware that sells, like Gustav?

What good are the most beautiful plates if you have no food?

Why do you always make it so difficult?

Your glassware cannot be used. It's just for decoration.

You.

Sofia.

That's too much.

Who was that? - I don't know.

We can pack. We don't have to sell anything anymore.

How much is it? - More than we could have dreamed of.

Tonight we're going to have fun, you and me.

Rent a room at the inn, put the kids to bed and I'll pack up here.

Of course I'll get you a gift from the market. Would you like a bottle of cologne?

Or one like that. - I already have a scarf.

That one then? A pair of new clogs?

We shouldn't buy anything we already have. We need the money.

What does it cost? - A thaler.

Do you want it, Sofia?

Yes.

If only we could get rich.

For the children. I want them to have a better life than us.

We're doing well, aren't we? - How beautiful they would be in silk clothes.

That is my wish for them.

Yes, that is my wish.

Let's go dancing.

But first I want Flaxa to predict the future for me.

I want to hear my future.

I'm ready for today. - But I want to...

Get out of here.

Go away.

I can afford it, you know!

No...

...and again no.

Dear child.

Dear child.

You wear a ring on your finger, Sofia.

If misfortune befalls you...

.. then send me that ring and I will help you.

Don't forget my words, Sofia.

Send me the ring if misfortune befalls you.

Albert, Flaxa wanted my ring. - For what?

She wanted the ring, otherwise bad luck would come.

She didn't want to predict the future for me. - She's not like that.

She refused. But she wanted the ring.

Wait here. She's not allowed to do that. That's just scaring people.

Misfortune, I won't speak about that!

That's how Albert found out what the fabric said.

I'm silent. Kloke happy!

That an evil force was lurking on the children.

Kloke is silent.

What is it Albert? What is it? What did she say?

Albert!

Thank God.

I don't know what came over me.

I don't know what came over me.

Albert chose not to say anything.

And soon Sofia forgot.

She danced into autumn with Klas and Klara.

I am laughing and laughing!

Look!

I'll help you.

I caught one!

Sofia!

Where are you?

Sofia, where are you?

I wanted to know where you were. - I'm not going anywhere.

No, I know.

Don't lose sight of them.

I need to talk to you. I have to ask you something.

You know I'm glad you're at home at night now.

But why are you always so restless?

Don't you trust me?

Why shouldn't I trust you? - What makes you so restless?

Nothing.

We just have to be on our guard.

What did Flaxa actually say? Why aren't you telling me?

She didn't say anything special, really.

We just have to be on our guard.

You have vagrants on the roads doing terrible things.

You have to be careful with people.

If she had said something, I wouldn't have cared about it anyway.

I don't believe in fortune tellers, you know that.

I hurt myself playing with the kids, I don't know how.

New life sings in the treetops.

All the dark clouds are gone.

We are going to sell wood anemones to get money for the market.

We are not allowed to go to the road!

Father and mother don't have money. We're going to help them.

I have four cents! And you? - Me, too!

Now we're going to pick two bunches!

They have some too.

Just not the glassblower's children. - They can just put them in their glasses at home.

That's impossible. Their glasses are way too tall!

Aren't those beautiful children, dear?

Come on!

Here.

That's a lot of money.

Now go quickly to your father and mother.

Have you gone crazy? You are not allowed to go on the road alone!

You know that, right, Klara?

You're never doing this again, understand?

Look.

Gold?

We just wanted to help.

And the spring market came.

Everyone had high expectations.

Especially the children.

How beautiful they are, Klara!

Look, she wants to come to me!

I want that doll. - Me, too.

If father sells something we might be able to buy her.

Now you're the only one selling glass on the market, Albert.

The biggest doll, Klas.

Why did Punch hit Judy on the head?

Your glass is more beautiful than ever, Albert.

It is clear that they are works of art.

Of course you're going to sell this, that goes without saying.

Over here, people!

Bowls and vases from the best glassblower in Småland!

There has not been glassware this beautiful for a long time in Diseberg.

Come and buy cheap.

Truly, I tell you: This is a steal! Yes, definitely!

Take a look here: The last work of glassblower Albert.

Buy now while you can, everything is gone tonight!

Seize your chance!

The little one costs 40. - I like this one.

Come take a look Klas!

Make sure we can see you!

Let's go see if the doll is still there! - Yes, let's!

I might get it.

Excuse me, I've come to get my children.

Have you seen Klas and Klara? - Aren't they playing with the other children?

The doll.

Excuse me.

Who bought that?

You won't believe it.

A little girl in half-torn clothes.

She had her brother with her.

Unbelievable that they let a child like that run around with so much money.

Albert.

I can't find the children.

Have you seen Klas and Klara?

Do you have our...

Klas!

Klara!

Has anyone looked here?

God help us.

It is my fault!

Maybe the inn.

Be careful, Sofia.

The coachman must know...

...that I know what it is carrying.

FORGETTING RIVER

Two small children. - That was the Lady's wish.

Look. She gets everything she wants. - Maybe she will say 'Thank you' now.

And when they wake up? - Then they won't know anything anymore.

Not even who their parents are. Everything has sunk in the Forgetting River.

Now the children are on the other side of the Forgetting River.

They remember nothing of their former lives.

Not even their name.

Everything is forgotten.

You live in Wishing City.

You belong to the Ruler and the Lady of the Manor.

Like all of us.

If the Ruler speaks to you, you say: 'Yes, Ruler' or 'No, Ruler'.

If you get something, you say, 'Thank you, Ruler.'

That's really important. Never forget to say 'Thank you'.

We have to say thank you.

The Lady waits in the hall of mirrors.

What is this? What is this? Stop, stop, stop!

This is not allowed.

You are absolutely not allowed to run here. That is not allowed.

It gives the Lady a headache.

That's why it must be QUIET here.

Don't laugh.

Yes...

- They're funny. - Here are the little ones.

- The ones you wanted. - That is not true.

The children were completely your idea.

The girl should have ringlets... Do it immediately!

Ringlets?

I'm not sure.

Dogs also look very nice.

Let's try it. For a change.

Here we go.

Mother?

My head! - Who is mother?

Is she a mother?

But you said... - It was your idea!

You said you wanted children!

I wanted to give you a child, not the other way around.

Give me a child? Should I say 'Thank you' then?

I just wanted to fulfill your wish.

I thought this time I could get a very small...

...a very small tha...

Stop! Understand that you are depriving me of my wishes with all your gifts.

I don't want to wish for anything anymore.

Thank... you.

What are the wishes for the evening meal?

Plum pie.

But, you're already eating that. - Blueberry pie then.

Tasty.

In any case, they don't look out of place to me. And they are our children now.

I know they are alive.

I know that.

It's been four months now.

There's something important I forgot. Something about the children.

Stop now.

If only I could remember... - Enough now.

It is my fault. I said they were a nuisance.

You didn't mean that and you know it.

It wasn't your fault!

Just put it there.

Thank you, Ruler.

Thank you. Thank you.

Pull.

Thank you. Thank you....

...Ruler.

Horse inside.

Here he comes.

And her.

Thank you...

It was nothing.

Look.

Do you see that?

The mirror children are the only ones in the Manor who see Klas and Klara.

The Lady is on her way to the hall of mirrors, she is too early. Quick, quick!

They shouldn't look like that.

We didn't know that...

Stop chewing!

My beautiful dogs.

Dogs are much better.

Clean, clean dogs.

Well-bred.

That night something will happen in the Manor...

...which will change everything.

For everyone.

Dear.

A servant dropped two carafes in front of my room.

In the middle of the night.

And he didn't clean anything up.

Right, yes.

You haven't... No, what am I saying, you are an old, faithful servant.

I trust you, but we have a glass breaker in the Manor.

A major villain who...

I charge you to seize him at all costs.

The coachman sets a trap for the glass breaker.

Like a spider weaves its web.

This must of course be punished, that goes without saying.

They're going to get a beating.

On the fingers. No, that hurts too much.

Spanking is better. They get spanked.

That's better for small, uneducated children.

Spanking on...

...the buttocks.

So give him...

Give him seven taps. Or five.

Two maybe.

Three. Three taps.

That's fine, we'll do that. And the girl only has to look.

Yes.

This is how we do it. Maybe.

Do it really...

...soft, or at least not so hard.

But they will get punishment.

Spanking. No.

Yes: spanking.

Ten taps, harder, then it will stop.

And you keep an eye on your brother, otherwise you'll get spanked too.

Mother!

Klara! Klara!

Mother!

Sofia.

It was your fault, Sofia.

They were just a nuisance, you said.

No! Klara!

Klas!

This is your punishment, Sofia.

This is your punishment.

They were just a nuisance, you said!

It was just a nightmare, Sofia.

It was just a dream.

Every piece is beautiful.

What a work of art.

People came from all over the country for Albert's glass.

How do you make something like that?

Don't know.

As long as he sheds tears, he need not lack money.

I don't see anything, Kloke.

It's a tangle.

There's something there, but I don't see it.

And you? What do you see, poor you?

You don't even see your own shadow anymore.

In the fog, two eyes are no help either.

Maybe you are right.

Then the mist must be dispelled, Kloke.

Then the mist must be dispelled, Kloke.

Then we must clear the mist.

Dispelling fog.

Do something! I have such a headache!

How long must this continue?

My head hurts so much when I hear children screaming, you have no idea.

There is also no one to take care of the children.

Why don't you have children...

Precisely! Why don't you get a nanny?

Nanny?

Do you wish that?

No, I don't wish anything.

Just get a...

...nanny. - Miss.

You called?

Excuse me, but...

My name is Nana. I come to work here.

No no no no.

That must be a mistake. - I take care of children.

Children? - Little ones?

Which one then? - All types, small and large.

So these are my disobedient children who need to learn manners.

This is Mimi.

Eating, every hour.

Is she going to eat it all?

Eat!

Eat, I tell you!

What will she do now? - I do not know.

What is that? - That's just the nanny.

Yes, she eats and then she goes to sleep, every hour.

Sleep?

Just fifteen minutes, she said.

It won't take that long...

Fifteen minutes, she said.

That was...

That is...

Time for school.

1 and 4 is 5. 6 and 12 is 8.

What is 6 and 19?

What is this?

Do we have children in the classroom who don't listen?

1 and 3 is 4. 7 and 92 is 99.

Repeat!

You can't count!

How do you spell 'Ruler'?

R-U-L-E-R - Repeat after me.

You have no skills and understand nothing.

I have never seen such stupid children!

In my school you will learn.

I would have become a singer if people had nothing wrong with their ears.

Actually, I'm a singer.

But unfortunately people had something wrong with their ears.

Let's see if there's something wrong with your ears too.

Sing. Sing after me.

Of course. You also clearly have something wrong with your ears.

You have to turn those ears until they hear what I'm singing.

I'm going to teach you how to listen with these.

I don't have any glass left.

I can't blow new ones fast enough.

Give me a sign.

Almighty God.

Just one little sign.

A tower?

There will be no moving to a tower here.

Lectern, seats, books, suitcase, I have everything here.

This room is just right for me.

You can move with a suitcase, right?

I'm not moving.

I understand.

Are you sick, dear? - Yes, what were you thinking?

If she doesn't leave, I leave.

Glass isn't being broken anymore, is it?

And she taught the little boy discipline.

She sings and sleeps.

She's gone, or I'm gone. The choice is yours.

But... - No buts. Her or me.

That's an order, you hear?

Dearest, you are sick.

You are sick because you aren't wishing for anything.

You have to start wishing for things again, then you will get better again.

Do you remember when you came to me here in Wishing City? You owned nothing.

I could give you everything, and you always said 'Thank you'.

Then you have to learn to do magic. - Magic?

Magic...

Only sorcery can get me to wish for anything.

Sorcery...

The Lady said it herself: Maybe someone could bring her wishes back with magic.

They are no longer there.

A bit of a cruel approach, but what can you do?

What do you want? Those little ones have to learn.

They are so messy and it's also very nice that he is staying away from the...

glass.

Wanted: Woman who can do magic.

'Woman who can do magic and is skilled in the magical arts.'

'Private room with stargazer.'

You should explore.

Don't come here with pieces of paper that people put up along the road.

Well? Tell me.

Did you see anything?

Didn't you see anything at all?

You can't even see the moon outside anymore!

No, but the children...

The children?

No more?

Just the children?

Is it that dark?

Oh no.

Is everything that black?

You need to get your night eye back, Kloke.

Dear child.

Dear child.

Dear child.

Dear child.

Don't forget my words.

Let's go, Kloke. - We go!

Your job is to make sure the Lady starts wishing again.

Should she wish for anything in particular?

No, everything is fine.

Wishes are important.

Very important.

Miss Mildväder, I presume...

...who, with her magic, must make me wish again.

Never mind.

Life is not that simple that you can solve everything with a bit of hocus pocus.

You definitely think you can come here...

...to perform miracles.

You are not very talkative.

I'm used to people looking at me when they talk to me.

Then what should I think of to offend you?

You conspire with the Ruler to make me chirp thanks.

I'm vain, but not stupid.

The Ruler, on the other hand, is vain and stupid.

That's why he can be so sweet. But I can't.

I was raised mean.

Mean, mean, mean!

I am mean. Why don't you contradict me? You must contradict me.

You can go, Miss Mildväder. Go away!

Nana.

I knew it.

Nana.

Bad luck, evil...

Will I be able to save the children?

I'm starting to doubt myself.

You wanted to speak to me? - You should call me 'Lady Ruler'.

He who does not rule himself is not a ruler.

How dare you.

I just say what I think.

Ah, I see.

Then I have to educate you. - Don't bother.

So don't try to make me wish for anything.

That leaves me cold.

There are more important things in life.

How can you say that?

What's more important than my wishes?

Most things are more important than people's wishes.

What are you staring at?

The clouds.

They're like white lambs...

...who enter the meadow of heaven.

Did you know that as a child I tended lambs?

On a small meadow.

I was poor then.

That was a long, long time ago.

I wished then that I would be rich....

...that I got everything I wanted.

I never thought that wish would come true.

But I got everything.

That's why I stopped wishing.

Not just out of meanness.

We almost always get what we wish for.

We just don't know how or when.

No, she's going back to sleep. It starts again!

We can leave in the carriage! The weather is so nice.

Lead the carriage and ask the Ruler...

I remember when I was a child.

I always picked wild roses.

I then sold them along the road to people who drove by.

I always picked them when they were still in the bud, so they lasted longer.

Oh, I wish I had a bouquet like that...

Dearest, you have expressed a wish.

As soon as we come to a rose bush, I will grant your wish.

You will receive the most beautiful bouquet of rose buds.

We are looking for buds.

This is where they should be. Here.

Here then? No, not...

Just flowers.

It is in full bloom. Down here then?

Come here, buddies.

Look here. Here, dear, here we have...

What a bud.

No, that's not a bud either.

All roses bloom. Not a single bud.

But my dear, when we get home, I'll send out some servants.

If you can wait until...

No, I want them now.

I want yours. - That is not possible. There are no buds.

Maybe you can wish for something different.

Buds that are ready.

Roses.

Thank you for finally letting me keep my wish.

The buds would have come out this evening.

And by tomorrow morning the leaves would have fallen.

Now they will always remain little rosebuds.

That never come true.

Thanks for letting me keep them.

I don't understand it very well.

Something's going to happen here soon.

When? - When the day breaks...

...and the last star is extinguished.

Then Nana is the strongest.

Then we must rob her of her power.

Wouldn't it be better if we waited until she was weak? - No, Kloke.

We must fight evil when it is at its strongest.

Otherwise the children are lost.

I have an important message for the Ruler and the Lady.

It is very important that you come at that moment.

I will show the ring and Nana will want it, that evil force.

And that's what we'll give her, all the evil that's in the ring.

When the last star has gone out, Kloke.

Let's go, Kloke.

What are those?

How beautiful. They look like tears.

They are tears. Hold them.

Until it's all over.

Sing after me. Sing!

Is there something wrong with your ears again today?

Do you think you won't get punished?

Are you scared now?

Let me show you what we do with such cowards.

Your last ear.

You.

What are you doing here?

It's not that easy.

Show the ring!

Come then, Nana.

Come...

It's for you...

Come...

Exactly...

Get it.

Don't close your eyes now, Nana.

Children become what you make them.

Look at your cowards. (also called 'jugs' in Swedish)

They have become jugs, can you see that?

We'll see each other again.

Yes, Nana. We'll meet again.

But won't they become alive again?

Not as long as they stay here in the Manor.

But when they are allowed to go home... - They become themselves again.

Then everything will turn out fine. Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you, miss.

But who was Nana anyway?

She is my sister.

Well, Kloke, tell me.

What do your eyes see?

Can you see?

Yes, I see everything.

Kloke sees everything!

So now you can also see back in time?

Thank you.

Before the sun and stars knew where to stand...

...Kloke already knew what life was.

Then I can continue weaving.