Original subtitles

EGON SCHIELE DEATH AND THE MAIDEN

VIENNA 1918 SHORTLY BEFORE THE END OF WWI

Egon. Edith.

We've got coal for you.

- Egon. - Wait.

Isn't he home?

I'm sure they're home.

My sister-in-law has had the flu for three days.

- Yeah, I know. - We can't get in.

I'll open the door.

Egon?

- Gerti. - I'm here.

- Edith isn't doing well at all. - I know.

You have a bad fever.

Mela, Toni, come on. We're leaving.

But I don't Want to go.

Uncle Egon is sick. Go on.

Mama will come in a bit, but we have to fetch the doctor.

Come on.

My sketchbook is over there.

Can you check who's coming for modeling today?

Sure.

There are three names for today and four for tomorrow.

You'll have to cancel them. I can't draw today.

Okay.

Maybe tomorrow.

I'll stay with you until the doctor arrives.

What are you doing with my mirror?

VIENNA, 1910

- That's my bedroom mirror! - You'll get it back.

- Did you go to see your guardian? - No.

- And when are you going? - I don't know.

- You'll get nothing from him then. - I don't care.

Of course you don't care, because you're living off your mother.

Do you two have to fight here where everyone can hear?

Okay, stay like that.

- This is tiring. - It won't take long.

Will you take me along to the Prater this evening?

- They don't let children in. - Who's a child?

- Well, you. - I'm 16.

We're 16, are we?

I'll tell Mother Where you're going this evening.

- You won't tell her. - I will.

Peace? Peace.

But only if you take me to the Prater.

I'm not going there for pleasure. It's for my work.

Stay just like that.

Did you tell Mother you stopped going to the academy?

No.

When are you going to tell her?

I'll tell her.

That's my business.

Bravo.

Bravo.

Bravo.

Gentlemen,

we move from one climax to the next.

You're also very welcome

to invite our artists for a tête-à-tête.

Show me your little titties again, blackie.

No, no. We don't need a whole bottle.

But we don't do anything by half, Professor.

If you just want a sip, go to a children's party.

Well, all right then.

Oh, applause, applause.

May I introduce the artist, Moa Nahuimur.

Nahuimur is too complicated.

Now I'm called Moa. Just Moa.

She is the daughter of a tribal chief from Tahiti.

I discovered her on my last trip around the world and abducted her,

whereupon her father disinherited her,

and now she must cast her pearls before swine in this sinister establishment.

Chéri, this is an historic moment.

We're celebrating the foundation of our artist's group,

“Les artistes nouveaux”.

In other words, “New Art Group”. More drinks!

Anton Peschka doesn't excel at French, but you'll forgive him.

New Artists Group, not “new art”.

There is no “new art,” just new artists.

Egon Schiele. He's just been banned from the Academy of Art for unruliness.

And that qualifies him as the president of our little artist's group.

Have you ever considered modeling?

We're looking for models.

For all of you? You won't be able to afford me.

- Just like I said, she's priceless. - Too bad.

I'd have loved to show you my studio before we leave.

An artist has to leave his familiar environment to develop a new vision.

Gentlemen, being entertained by the artists after the show costs extra.

I've been trying to order more drinks.

The gentlemen and I are having a professional conversation.

Papa, a bottle of bubbly for the gentlemen.

This one's on me.

Just around the corner from here.

- You invited her? - Yes, she's the chiefs daughter.

We'll be working.

April 7, 1910.

Moa... and what else?

Nothing else. Just Moa.

All right. Just Moa.

Will two hours be all right? I pay half a krone an hour.

I usually make more.

- And where would that be? - On stage.

All right, one krone per hour.

At the academy only male models got that much.

You know this is a nude session, don't you?

Sorry, I don't have a screen here.

Leave your shoes and stockings on.

The other hand, please.

Shoulder a bit higher.

The right hip higher as well.

Yes, good.

Look at yourself in the mirror, not me.

The woman in your drawings, is she the one who let me in?

- Yes, that's my sister. - Sister?

Yes.

You draw her naked?

When I'm old and impotent, I'll draw something different.

And will you write my name on it?

- Where? - On the picture.

My name's on it. I'm the artist.

So What? How will I get famous if my name isn't on the picture?

I don't know.

What's wrong?

Keep your money.

- She has no bosom at all. - No, she doesn't.

Come on. Bring the train station.

Who is she anyway?

- An actress. - An actress?

- From the Prater? - Yes. Why not?

A Prater hussy.

I hope I'm not disturbing the artist at work.

You never disturb me, Carl.

Would you like some wine?

But only if Fräulein Gerti does us the honor of joining us.

No, thank you, Herr Reininghaus. I must be going.

Oh, do stay a little.

I don't have any finished work for you. Just a few sketches.

But my sketches are also works of art.

She doesn't seem so coy in your pictures.

That's also a sketch for an oil painting of Gerti.

I got it into an exhibition.

- You're such a divinely gifted artist. - She radiates light.

Guess what the Kaiser said when he saw this?

The Kaiser went to a modern art exhibition?

- What did he say? - “This is disgusting,” he said.

Good for you.

What do you want for a sketch like this?

Twenty kronen. Special price for a friend.

- For all the nudies? - No, for one.

And only because you're the only collector in Vienna who really understands art.

A shrewd one, aren't you?

All right then.

I'd love to fill a whole room with erotic nude pictures of Gerti.

As a fresco. Could you do that?

Sure. But I won't.

- Why not? - Yes, why not?

- Gerti wouldn't mind. - I'm an artist, not a pornographer.

Where were you this afternoon?

I had to send away customers, because you were out about town!

- Where were you? - None of your business.

Are you working the streets?

Don't you talk French to me, understand?

Is this how you thank me for giving you a job?

Who else would take in a wog like you? You slut!

Don't raise your hand against me! Don't you dare!

Go on. Kill me!

I'm not going back. They'll kill me.

Can I stay here? Just a few days.

No, that's impossible.

- We're leaving Vienna. - She can stay in the studio tonight.

You don't have to tell Mother.

- Well, I'm leaving now. - I won't be long.

What's between you and Dom?

He practices with me.

Everything.

He says I have the talent to appear on a real stage.

I meant something else.

What?

You know what.

Listen, my friend.

Dom is a dancer.

- Yes. So what? - Well, he's like a brother to me.

It didn't look that way.

It doesn't look that way with you and your sister either.

Moa.

Sleep well.

KRUMAU SOME WEEKS LATER

There are four of you?

I've only reserved three rooms.

Fräulein Gerti, when I see you, the sun begins to shine.

What am I doing here in Krumau if you've brought your Prater hussy with you?

Are you staying with us?

No, I'm staying on the main square in our aunt's house.

- Too bad. - I'm sure we'll bump into each other.

Krumau isn't that big.

Don't flirt with my sister. We're here to work.

He's over there.

Are you coming to the river Moldau with us?

I'm nearly finished.

And now do the first one again.

Nigger, nigger! Chimney sweeper!

I'll gobble you up!

Egon, I thought it'd be my turn now.

- No, not yet. - Then I won't disturb you.

- You never disturb me, Gerti. - But her, maybe.

You let her wrap you around her finger.

I was a peddler in Paris, then I took the ship to England.

I was the lover of a countess in Ireland.

In Holland, I joined the army,

sewing in the colonies in Siam, Tibet and China,

and the Bengali gulf, and that's where I discovered this recipe.

People are complaining about our Prater hussy running around the town naked.

And the landlord wants next month's rent in advance.

Why is that?

- Do we have any money left? - I'll get some soon.

I sent our guardian in Vienna a telegram, saying we are “in need”.

Come with me.

This is his reply.

- You've already read it? - Yes.

He thinks it's impertinent of me to ask him to pay for my entourage.

But how does he know who's here? Did you tell him?

I'm fed up.

- I'm leaving. - Leaving me all alone?

Egon doesn't care.

He used to treat me differently.

All I did was send a postcard saying hello from everybody.

Don't hang your head.

Water!

The letter from Uncle Leopold...

also said...

that he revokes his guardianship of Egon and me.

Now, Egon is my guardian.

Yes! Moa!

Moa! Let the libidinous power run free!

Not the shares! Not the shares!

The syphilis has ruined your brain!

Think of our children!

What's the matter?

My father's here.

Again?

Moa!

I found a splendid name for you.

Moa Mandu.

The Mandu is a river in Sierra Leone.

She's a woman. She's always in motion, like a river.

And us men are just her riverbanks.

Come here. I never had brothers and sisters.

And now, I have two brothers.

Here you are.

- I'm writing. - A poem?

Coffee? - There's none left.

“Dear Carl Reininghaus, an artist really shouldn't have to worry

about money each month.”

I'm asking him for 500 kronen.

He can take what he wants from my studio in Vienna. He knows where the key is.

Gerti?

Where have you been?

Did you sleep here, with Anton?

- She's no angel either. - I didn't ask you!

Enough, Gerti!

We came here to work! Anton hasn't even unpacked his easel yet!

I'm the only one here who actually works.

- You're going back to Vienna. - I had a crazy dream...

And don't ever come back!

What a cheerful bunch!

That's it! The fucking Krumau Artist's Colony is over!

Gerti!

Coming.

- Thank God you're here, Doctor. - Hello.

Put this on, please.

- Really? - Yes, please.

I gave him morphine to lessen the pain when he breathes.

I couldn't give it to his wife, clue to her condition.

She was six months' pregnant.

He doesn't know yet that she's dead.

And its better that way. He shouldn't get agitated.

What can I do for him?

Chest compresses, vinegar stupes. And plenty of schnapps in his tea.

That fever has to subside or his life is in danger.

Vinegar stupes? Don't you have anything more effective?

There must be a better way to lower the fever.

Quinine. But you can't get it anywhere these days.

On the black market, maybe.

Try it there, if you have anything of value.

And the watch?

It's pure silver.

Gold?

Egon. Do you have vinegar?

- Vinegar. - Yes, there.

There.

NEULENGBACH, 1911

Gerti.

Peace?

Peace.

- Do you often go up there? - Yes.

The view from above always helps.

- Like in Krumau. - Exactly.

The fields here are the same for me as the rooftops in Krumau.

I'm going to stay here in Neulengbach.

I can work much better when I'm alone.

- Have you put on weight? - Yes. Maybe.

That's what I wanted to talk to you about.

After all, you're my guardian.

About what?

Anton and I want to get married.

I'm pregnant.

- But we're getting married. - It's out of the question.

- Should I have an illegitimate child? - Yes!

I'm very disappointed with Anton. And with you.

Don't shout at me.

I never thought you'd let things go so far!

I thought a noble spirit resides in a noble body!

But you're no better than one of those Prater hussies!

And you know what?

I won't let you marry until you're 21.

You do everything you like, and I can't do anything?

Looking for Klimt?

I'd be happy if I could see faces like you do.

It's because I look right through them.

Anyone who laughs about me, envies me.

You might be right about that.

Now you've found your style.

I was right back then to advise you not to give a shit about the academy.

If you had been a professor there, I would've stayed.

They wouldn't let someone like me teach there.

What about exhibitions?

I'm showing eight pictures at the Hagenbund exhibition in spring.

Bravo. But it's important to have international shows too.

I'll see what I can do for you.

In my opinion, this girl's a bit too young to be a nude model.

I don't work with kids this young. It's not worth the risk.

What's your price for one of these drawings?

- I just wanted your opinion on my work. - But I'd like to buy something from you.

I don't care about money.

I see.

We could swap drawings.

Choose one.

- Tomorrow at the same time? - Yes. That's fine.

Would you like wally to sit for you one day?

Now they got scared.

They only come in when I'm alone.

So many mountains.

They're not mountains. That's the Vienna Woods.

- Haven't you ever seen proper mountains? - Where I come from, it's so flat.

You can watch the swallows migrating south

until they're just tiny dots on the horizon.

“On the Virgin Mary's birthday the swallows fly away.”

That's what my grandmother always used to say.

And it's true.

The starlings gather two weeks later.

Then the sky goes black.

Look over at me, please.

Good.

But I can't remember when the skylarks fly away.

Before or after the swallows?

- You're a twittering skylark yourself. - Do I talk too much?

No, I'll tell you if it's too much.

- Could you pull up the underpants a bit? - Now I'm embarrassed.

- Why? What's embarrassing about this? - Not this. That I talk too much.

Please look over at me.

Wait a second. I have to pay you.

- Klimt took care of that. - What?

- He paid for the session. - Well, then.

So you don't have to paint naked children, he said.

That's none of his business. I paint what I want to.

You can tell him that.

Will you find your way back to the station?

Are you trying to get me drunk?

- As if I would. - You couldn't anyway.

Where I come from, wine is like water.

I thought there was just swallows and skylarks.

The farmers...

used to send bottles of wine to my father at the school,

so he'd let the children help with the harvest.

You're a teacher's daughter? I've always had problems with teachers.

Well, I used to tidy up his filthy apartment,

collect the empty wine bottles, clean the classroom.

It was better than working in a factory, but I didn't really have a life.

I've put all that behind me now. Thank God.

Twittering skylark, laugh again.

Shall I leave the wine here, Herr Schiele?

I've already missed the train anyway.

My grandmother used to say a woman should save herself for the right man.

I wish I'd kept myself for you.

Klimt?

Every girl who works for him knows what's going to happen.

My father back home was worse.

My father ruined his family.

He burnt everything in the oven.

Everything the family owned.

Shares, saving certificates, he burnt it all.

- Are you from a posh family? - Can't you tell?

He was right though. Money is nothing but green scraps of paper.

You can't buy art. A work of art is priceless.

SIX MONTHS LATER

Are you Fräulein Walburga Neuzil?

Yes.

Does the artist Herr Egon Schiele live here?

Yes, but he's in Vienna today.

He's preparing an exhibition. What's this about?

This summons you to appear as a witness at the district court.

And this is for Herr Schiele.

If it's about the bill from the upholsterer,

Herr Schiele is part of a big exhibition. He'll sell some pictures.

And he'll settle that bill first of all.

- Really. - Sign here, please.

To confirm that you received the letters.

Friday, 3:00, at Neulengbach District Court.

Frau Walburga Neuzil.

This way.

Profession? - Model.

Address? - Au 48, Neulengbach.

- Since when? - October 1911.

So you have been living with Herr Schiele for six months...

Without being married to him.

I can't get the train back and forth to Vienna every day.

- Do you know what that would cost? - No. But that's not the point here.

What do you know about Tatjana von Mossig?

Attention! Step back, please!

Tatjana has run away from home.

She wants to sleep here.

I don't want to go home ever again. They beat me.

But you can't stay here, Tatjana. We're going to a party in Vienna today.

Herr Schiele wanted to take me to visit his patron, Herr Reininghaus.

For the first time.

Herr Schiele's sister lent me a dress for the occasion.

I had nothing to wear for such a party.

So you just took the girl with you to Vienna?

What were we supposed to do? She didn't want to go home.

She begged us to take her with us to her granny in Vienna.

And we thought that way we'd get rid of her.

- Where does your granny live? - Main Street.

There are lots of “Main Streets” in Vienna.

Meidlinger, Landstrasser.

- Hietzinger. - That one.

And which number? Hietzinger Main Street is pretty long.

I don't know the number.

What are we going to do with her?

Herr Schiele then went to visit Herr Reininghaus on his own.

I'd been worried I wouldn't fit in at a party like that anyway.

So you spent the night of the 23rd to the 24th of March

in a hotel room with Frau Tatjana von Mossig?

- Yes. - And Herr Schiele as well?

- I don't know. - But surely you must know

if Herr Schiele spent the night in the same room as you and the girl.

I don't know how long the party went on. Maybe he spent the night with his sister.

I didn't see him until the next day at the station, when we took the train back.

- And Tatjana was there again? - Yes.

And then I took her back to her parents.

They were very happy nothing had happened to the girl.

And was that the case?

Did nothing really happen?

No, I was looking after her.

Frau Neuzil, you were complicit in an abduction.

Is the noose ready for me?

- Are you Herr Egon Schiele, artist? - I certainly am.

You are not permitted to communicate with the witness.

This way.

I can walk alone.

You have to call Roessler and Reininghaus!

And tell them what they're doing to me!

The local newspaper is already calling him a “child molester”.

It's a rag, but read by a lot of those anemic moralists.

I warned him so many times to stop using those child models,

to keep his hands off the little girls!

He'll get five years in prison for child abuse.

It's Schiele's model.

Herr Reininghaus left Vienna yesterday.

- And when will he be back? - In three weeks.

You've got a visitor, Herr Schiele.

Wally. About time too.

I got No. 1 pencils. Was that right?

Your stockings?

Well, you like the color.

I was afraid you'd be wearing one of those prison uniforms.

Why? I'm not a criminal.

I've got more for you.

Good reviews of your exhibition.

“Egon Schiele is an undoubtedly talented and brilliant illustrator.”

An English newspaper.

And here: “Egon Schiele has the power to shock.

It is quite possible that this depressing filth could give rise to great art.”

That must be an Austrian paper.

And a whole page in the Workers' Gazette.

- By Roessler? - Yes.

“For several months, he was busy drawing proletarian children,

fascinated by the devastating sorrows

these innocent creatures are exposed to.”

Now that I might have a real chance, they look me up.

Visiting time is over!

How old is this Tatjana?

I don't know exactly. Thirteen.

Not 14 yet.

And what do you think?

- Do you think he's capable of it? - He's innocent.

Why are you so sure about that?

How are you these days, anyway?

Can you make ends meet with Egon in prison for the last two weeks?

The constabulary came to the house and took everything.

They confiscated 125 drawings.

What stupidity!

How can we work with the police snooping around our studios?

He needs a good lawyer, but that costs money.

Has it started yet?

Fräulein Schiele, you aren't permitted in the courtroom.

The general public is excluded.

We didn't have this conversation.

What if they lock him away for years?

I hope not.

Why didn't you stop him from working with children?

Were you always present when the children were modeling?

Were you always present when the children were modeling?

Yes, always.

Except when I was preparing something to eat.

Or making a hot chocolate for the kids. Then I was in the kitchen.

In other words, you would have noticed

if anything indecent had happened during the course of his work?

- He'd never have done that. - Would you have noticed?

Yes, of course.

One last question:

When you spent the night in the hotel with that girl,

did Herr Schiele return from his party at some point?

No.

Can you confirm it by oath?

Yes.

I summon the prosecution witness.

During individual hearings, you went on record and signed documents

stating that Herr Schiele seduced you on the night in question.

Fräulein von Mossig, we all know that young people of your age

possess great powers of imagination.

Is it possible that you just dreamed Herr Schiele was in the hotel with you?

Should we take a break?

I would like to present a document in evidence

which I unfortunately only received just before the trial today.

It's a medical report.

The defense had Tatiana von Mossig's virginity examined.

The hymen is intact.

The public is admitted for the announcement of the verdict.

Please approach the witness box.

I hereby announce the verdict.

St. Pölten, May 4, 1912.

The criminal court has concluded...

that the charges against Herr Egon Schiele of abducting and abusing

the underage girl, Tatjana Georgette Anna von Mossig...

will be dropped.

However, he is found guilty of inviting underage children to his studio

to show them pornographic images,

which is an infringement of Article 516 of the Criminal Code.

Taking the 21 days of custody into account,

he is therefore sentenced to three days' detention for violating morality.

The drawing which was presented as evidence is to be destroyed immediately.

This is abhorrent.

- This is pornography. - It's an erotic artwork!

- This is an artwork? - I am an artist.

It's my responsibility to defend the freedom of art.

Only narrow minds laugh about the effect of art!

I did not give you permission to speak.

- Just a minute. Objection. - Denied.

- I brought the ladies with me. - We're here for her.

- My condolences. - Thank you.

- The fever hasn't gone down? - No, it's over 40 degrees.

- It's much too cold in here. - I know, but the oven isn't working.

The doctor asks if it's possible for us to bring Egon over to your house.

He needs a warmer place.

You don't have to do anything. I'll do everything.

I'll take care of him.

I'll stay the night with you.

Tomorrow morning I'll get you some quinine.

Now I know where I can get it.

It would've been better for Edith to come over here straightaway.

I know. But she didn't want to.

She didn't want to let you out of her sight?

- She's just jealous. - Of every girl who models for you?

- Where did you get the tobacco? - It's real tobacco.

Would you like one too?

Who of the Schiele family needs to be notified of Edith's death?

Tomorrow, I could meet somebody at the Prater who sells quinine.

But he won't take money. Only valuable jewelry.

- Not our family jewels. - What's that supposed to mean?

I'd have done that for my sister. But not for him.

Then he'll die.

The jewelry is all we have left. Who knows what lies ahead?

Call it cruel if you like, but he's not getting anything from me.

He's been cruel the whole time. Selfish and inconsiderate.

To Edith, and to all women. He used them until nothing was left.

- Another blackout. - I'll do it.

Haven't you got over it yet?

When Egon moved into the studio opposite your house,

it shouldn't have interested you two.

Two well-bred girls.

VIENNA, 1914

Look at this. Come quickly. Now there's another one with him.

Two, in fact.

Probably two whores.

Or poor women, who have to take care of their younger siblings.

Edith, you really believe everything you read in your novels.

But he's always very friendly when he greets.

When did he greet you?

I went out with the dog. I met him by chance, and he greeted me.

- And what did you do? - I greeted him back.

I'm Adele Harms.

I live opposite your studio.

I'm very pleased to see you in our salon.

- For what occasion is the hat? - A wedding.

- But not your own? - No. I'm still available.

Me too.

This is just the right hat for such an occasion.

At present, we only remodel items, because we can't get the material.

The felt is needed elsewhere more urgently.

Twenty-seven, please.

I'd very much like to model for you.

Easily arranged. You pay, I paint.

If you like, even in vinegar and oil.

- Good-bye. - Good-bye.

- Are you flirting with me? - Me?

I'm not the right man for a woman like you.

I have no money and a miserable reputation. I've even been in prison.

True love doesn't care about past misconduct.

Your turn.

Sorry, but I can't let you in.

You know my wife has a rather bourgeois attitude.

I've come for the 500 kronen for the picture that was sold in Munich.

As commission for the sale, you can choose one of these.

My dear Schiele forgets that he still owes me money for paper and canvas.

- You don't like it? - I do.

He's changed his style since he's been with you.

But I need cash nevertheless.

All right, I'll keep the small one and give you 200.

But you got 500 for his work.

- How much did you get? - 500.

But it wasn't easy.

Don't let me disturb you.

A coffee for the lady?

- Your wine, Herr Schiele. - Thanks.

- Can I interest the ladies in a glass? - No.

Wed better not. We should be getting home soon.

- Already? - Yes, unfortunately.

Edith gets grounded even if she's just 10 minutes late.

- Our Mama really is strict. - Too bad.

But maybe I can invite you ladies to the cinema one day?

I don't know whether Edith would be allowed to go to the cinema.

And then I'd be all alone with you.

What would people think?

Who said we'd be all alone? Wally will come along, as a chaperone.

Then surely your Mama would permit Edith to come as well.

Where is it?

In Dalmatia.

We'll move there together.

Life is better there than here in Vienna. It's warmer and everything is cheaper.

What are you laughing at?

This job will be tough.

She wants a portrait. As a fine lady with a dress and jewelry.

- But I think she has an interesting face. - With her pimples.

Maybe shes even still a virgin.

I could check.

Stay like that.

Stay like that.

Straighten your upper body a bit.

Are we working already?

I'm always working.

Stand up.

So then take these consecrated rings.

They shall always remind you of the marital fidelity,

which shall be kept until death,

as you have promised here at the altar, before the eyes of God.

And now, hold out your hands to each other.

I hereby link you in the marriage covenant

in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Amen.

Don't be upset, Egon.

I'm not upset.

On the contrary.

Now you're responsible for my sister.

Can you support her?

Anton.

What about the pictures you were going to send me for the gallery?

Always the same with you.

Unlike you, I've been in the army for four months.

There's no time to paint there.

Do you think we paint while we march?

Can't you put on a happier face?

No. I wouldn't get married if I didn't earn enough money.

I'm not asking you to marry me anyway.

So you don't want me to marry you?

- No. - I thought I was your great love.

I don't even know what “great love” means.

So, you're not in love with me?

I'm not in love with anybody.

Okay. I need that in writing.

Write it down: “I declare

- today... ” - “Today, on the 24th of November,

1914,

that there is nobody...

in the entire world... that I am in love with.”

Egon, dance with me. It's my wedding.

Come on now, Egon. It's tradition.

- With me? - Yes.

But it's tradition. Don't be so stubborn.

THE SHEPHERD OF MARIA SCHNEE

That's Moa.

That's Moa Mandu. She used to be Egon's model.

It's snowing!

So beautiful.

It's snowing!

Thank you again for the invitation. Get home safely.

- Good night. - Would you like to come over one day?

- It's Adele's birthday on Friday. - I'd be delighted.

- And you, Fräulein Wally? - Your parents don't even know me.

That doesn't matter.

I have choir practice every Friday.

No more beautiful death in the world

Than to die at the hands of the enemy

In green meadows, in open fields

Mourning will never be the loudest sound

In the narrow bed, everyone alone

Must join the ranks of the dead

Here he will find his companions

Fallen like the petals in May

And when will you set out in the name of the Kaiser, God and fatherland?

- Not at all. I am exempted. - How fortunate you are.

Austria is fortunate. I have exhibitions in Berlin and Munich.

As an artist I serve the fatherland better than in uniform.

- My father was more the uniform type. - Is your father an officer?

No, a senior official at the Imperial Railway.

- At the railway. Like my husband. - What? Who?

His father works for the railway.

My father was the station master in Tulln. He had 40 people under him.

Yes, but he died when Egon was 15 years old.

Since then I've been the paternal authority in our family.

Not anymore though. You can't clo anything against a war wedding.

My sister got married.

She isn't of age yet and shouldn't just do as she pleases.

In March I'll come of age, and then I shall do whatever pleases me.

So if I ask you to marry me in March, Fräulein Edith,

nobody will be able to prevent it.

And was it nice at their house?

Pity you weren't there. - I had a good time too. I like singing.

I know, my twittering skylark.

Almost all the young men were absent.

- They're already calling up the reserves. - If they call me up, I'll kill myself.

If they lock me up in the barracks, it'll be the end of my artistic career.

Look at Anton.

He hasn't painted a thing since hes been on duty.

One of the men in the choir was talking about Przemysl.

They can take their wives to the garrison.

She gets a room in an inn, and he goes to her every night.

They call it “home-sleeping-permit”.

Would you do something like that for me?

Next one.

Fit for service. Next one.

I have a weak heart.

For the ladies?

Fit for service.

Next one.

- A bouquet? - No. Thank you.

Lovely, isn't it?

- It's yours. - What?

It's one of my designs. Do you like it?

Thank you!

It looks good on you.

Shall we start?

Lie down here.

Turn over.

Your feet clown.

The hands like this. Can you touch them?

As if you're holding someone who is going to leave you.

Are you going to leave me?

I've been deemed fit for service.

I thought they wouldn't take you.

As an artist...

They're sending me to Prague for basic training.

- For how long? - For a couple of months.

And then...

I promised to go anywhere with you if you had to go to war.

But how would I afford a room in Prague?

We don't even have enough money for the rent here.

That's why...

you're not the right woman to be my wife.

What do you mean by that?

Well...

Maybe one of those chits will marry you before you go to war.

You won't believe it, but I've actually been thinking about that.

We always said we'd never marry each other. It's just a formality!

It won't change anything between us.

Wally!

Wally, wait!

- It's over! - I need you.

For the painting.

Thank God.

I've only come to tell you...

Come in.

I wanted to tell you that I won't work with you again until...

You promised.

You promised that it's over with her.

Egon, I'm really not asking anything unreasonable.

Edith.

You can get undressed again.

Leave the undershirt and stockings on.

“Man and the Maiden”.

Should I call this picture that?

Whatever.

Look, if they lock me up in a barracks...

I have to paint every day. Otherwise I'll die. You know that.

I have to go to Prague next week.

Are you taking her with you?

Which one? Adele?

No. The other one.

Edith.

When are you getting married?

June 17.

Tomorrow?

But first I wanted to make a wedding pact with you.

Our secret wedding.

I've already written it.

You just have to sign.

Look. “Today, the 16th of June 1915,

I confirm that I will go on holiday with Egon every year.”

Where?

Wherever you want.

Maybe Dalmatia.

Egon. Egon!

Anything else for the lady?

BOHEMIA, 1915

Have you got paper and the pencil?

I was in Prague. Are they the right ones?

Yes.

Wait a minute. Hold on.

Stay like that.

I don't want you to draw me like this.

Why not?

Because I don't want other people to see me this way.

Nobody will recognize you.

Everyone will know it's me.

Why?

Because I am married to you.

I see.

Or do you have someone else already?

No, I don't.

How could I when I'm in the barracks all day?

But you said that you wanted to change.

And you could do it with me, you said.

That you'd stop this obsession. That you were interested in other things.

Nature, the trees...

And not just that one thing all the time.

The gallery owner in Vienna pays 50 kronen for a nude like this.

And if I color it afterwards, 60 kronen.

Where do you think I get the money for the crayons?

And the paper isn't free either.

But I have a right to my dignity as your wife.

Yes, sure.

Edith. Edith, wait.

- Edith, Where are you going? - I can't go on like this. I can't.

- Edith, please. - This isn't the marriage I wanted!

Following you from one barracks to the next, from one hotel to the next.

- I'm leaving you! - Edith,

if you do that, I'll go crazy and throw myself into the lake.

- Into which lake? - Edith.

You'll see. I'll be transferred to Vienna soon. To work in an office.

Then I can paint at home again.

And then the tawdry girls will come again.

Wally isn't in Vienna anyway.

And what about Adele?

This constant jealousy has to stop!

I need pictures! There are exhibitions despite the war.

I need to present something.

Forgive me.

My dearest Egon...

I always hoped we would run into each other

sometime during this war.

I put your name down in my service record as my closest relative.

I hope you don't mind.

I'm afraid your twittering skylark has fallen sick.

Here I am in a field hospital on the coast of Dalmatia with scarlet fever.

But as you know, bad weeds grow tall. I'll be fine.

At least this way I have time to write.

Just imagine, I really did find the pretty little house.

The one from the magazine. Do you remember?

You wanted to live there with me.

But unfortunately, they wouldn't let women inside.

Tomorrow it's Christmas.

And here it's just raining and blowing a gale.

I so long to see Vienna again, and the snow.

I would like to be...

Thank you.

Your tickets, madam. Thank you. Have a nice evening.

I know that one.

I am so happy.

Where is he? I'd like to congratulate him.

Over there, in the next room.

Come.

Here you are.

- Congratulations. - Congratulations.

“Army nurse Neuzil, Wally.

Diagnosed with scarlet fever.

Died on December 25, 1917,

in Dalmatia.”

DEATH AND THE MAIDEN

I need... I need you.

It's all right. I'm here.

Drink this.

There's a lot of schnapps in it. It'll help.

Do you want to say something?

You're still up?

Now Adele has a fever as well.

I could get some quinine on the black market.

But only in exchange for diamonds.

Egon has plenty of money since the exhibition, but...

Nobody wants money these days, I know.

But Adele doesn't want that.

Then she will also die, like Edith.

And so will he.

I got it, Egon.

It'll help you get better.

What are you doing with the mirror, Mother?

This mirror is mine.

Egon said he'd give it back when he didn't need it anymore.

- Now he doesn't need it anymore. - The notary has to value everything first.

Let's continue: the entire furnishings, including the mirror, 2,800 kronen.

The watch and two wedding rings, 500 kronen.

- What about the pictures? - Three Women, unfinished, 400 kronen.

Crouching Couple, 600 kronen.

Four Trees, 400 kronen. 50 kronen per sheet for the drawings.

We'll decide who gets what later.

Two, three...

EGON SCHIELE DIED ON 31 OCTOBER 1918 AT THE AGE OF 28.

HE LEFT BEHIND APPROXIMATELY 300 OIL PAINTINGS,

OVER 2,000 DRAWINGS AND WATERCOLORS.

TODAY, HIS WORKS SELL FOR MILLIONS AT INTERNATIONAL AUCTIONS.

GERTI LIVED IN VIENNA UNTIL 1981. SHE DIED AT THE AGE OF 87.