Before We Forget (2024) Movie Script
1
[camera shutter clicks]
[camera shutter clicks]
[camera shutter clicks]
[bright music]
[camera shutter clicks]
[camera shutter clicks]
[camera shutter clicks]
[crowd cheering]
[banging on van]
[people speaking Spanish]
[cheers and applause]
[banging on van]
-[Misia] Matas?
-[Matas] Yeah.
Hi, I'm Misia, from Poland.
So nice to meet you.
-I'm Matthew, from New York.
-I'm Lola, from England.
-Did you land all right?
-And how was your flight?
-Good. It was good.
-See you at the show.
-Yes. See you.
-Ciao.
-Pala, right?
-Yes, room 12.
-What's Pala?
-Um,
Pala, also known as "Palazzine,"
is one of the many residences
spread across Duino.
-And it's all really confusing--
-Where are you going?
-To Pala.
-No. You can't go to Pala.
[speaking Polish]
The show is at 5:30, not at 6.
We have to go now!
-What did you bring?
-Let's go.
I think I heard the room
was room five.
We have to go. Go, go, go.
-Every night...
-Fede...
Federico, why are you
still here?
-I'm rehearsing!
-You're late!
What do you mean I'm late?
Hi, I'm Federico.
The show's not at 6, it's
at 5:30, and you're opening!
[indistinct chatter]
[orchestra tuning]
You just sit here
and enjoy the show.
-We have to go.
-Ciao.
[announcer] In the beginning,
there was chaos.
And the national
selection panel.
The place: Duino!
[cheers and applause]
First years!
You've been officially hijacked
for the next three years
of your life!
There will be singing,
there will be dancing.
There will be nights spent
writing, impossible deadlines.
There will be languages
you've never heard of
and smells you've never thought
humanly possible.
I'm talking to you, roomie.
And now, for the first time
at UWC Adriatic,
the second years of Duino!
Let's go!
[upbeat music playing]
Cazzo. Merda. Puttana!
[cheers and applause]
I'm so, so, so sorry,
but I have to do it.
-Come.
-[Matas] No, please.
-Come, it's fine. It's fine.
-No. No.
Let's give him
a round of applause!
Come, come.
I'm not gonna bite you. Come.
It's OK, really.
Matas, from Argentina!
[cheers and applause]
Every year, on the welcome show,
a first year needs to perform.
What is your traditional dance
from your country?
I don't know.
[student] Of course, you know!
It's tango!
[all] Tango, tango, tango!
-They all want tango!
-[all] Tango, tango!
-I can't do it.
-Come on, you can do it.
Stay, stay, stay.
For me. For them.
No one will laugh. I promise.
[tango music playing]
It's OK. We even have music.
[all] Tango, tango, tango!
Come on, it's fine. Yeah?
Well, you just...
Just put your hand here.
And just close your eyes
and follow my lead.
[cheers and applause]
[laughter and applause]
[cheers and applause]
You did it great!
[all] Matas, Matas!
Matas, Matas!
Matas, Matas! Matas, Matas!
[cheers and applause]
[student 1] I like your moves.
You have to teach me sometime.
That was amazing, man.
Hi, hi, excuse me.
Hello everybody.
I'm Alexander, I'm a first year.
Pleased to meet you all.
-Hi. You're first year? Me too.
-[Abebi] Yeah.
Hey. Alexander, from Sweden.
That was astonishing!
You're like an Argentinian
Fred Astaire!
-No, I'm not Fred Astaire.
-Yes, you are.
I need to be your friend.
Wait, where are you guys going?
-Uh...
-To Yohana's room.
-Who's Yohana?
-A second year.
-Are we going?
-Do you want to join us?
-Yeah.
-She's just come over.
-Should we go? Let's go.
-Yeah.
Have you seen
The Meaning of Life?
[Matas] Oh... No.
Have you seen
The Meaning of Life?
[Abebi] I... No.
[Alexander] We'll watch
The Meaning of Life.
[Paolo speaking Spanish]
[all speaking Spanish]
[light music]
[siren wailing]
Um...
[both speaking Spanish]
[laughs]
[person speaking Spanish]
[dramatic music playing]
[music stops]
[sighs]
[light music]
[Matas] This place is crazy.
Crazy was the evil knight
who once lived here.
[Matas] The evil what?
Evil knight!
Be careful,
because it's very slippery.
Come, quickly.
I want to show you up here.
But, also, be careful.
I don't want to be responsible
for your death, you know?
It is said that once upon a time
this castle was home
to an evil, jealous knight
who had a beautiful,
beautiful and kind wife
called Esterina da Portole.
She was so beloved
by the people of Duino.
Everybody loved her
and she loved them.
And this drove the knight
wild with jealousy.
So, one night,
he wrapped her in a beautiful
piece of white silk,
and he lured her all the way
around the castle walls
up the steps and into
the tallest tower. This one.
And he pulled her in very close,
like this.
And he said to her,
"If you can't love me,
and only me,
then you will love nobody."
And he pushed her
out of the window!
And her body went flying!
No!
But before her body
hit the water,
it became rock.
The white rock that sits
directly beneath
where we are right now.
-The Dama Bianca.
-You are full of shit.
No, not I'm not full of shit.
That's a true story.
-You made that up.
-No! I didn't!
She walks around Duino
now as a ghost.
"Ma che fai? Non mi uccidere,
cavaliere. No!"
[laughs]
[Matas] Wait, wait!
[muffled banging on door]
[banging on door]
[sighs]
[both speaking Spanish]
This steak is raw.
[translates in Spanish]
[repeats in Spanish]
[laughs]
I would like to have
sexual relations with you.
[speaking Spanish]
[laughs]
It was good, huh?
It was good?
-My Spanish is getting good.
-Mmm.
You know,
your English is excellent.
No, it's not.
Yes, it is. Really is.
Yours is amazing.
Mummy's British.
How did you learn it?
I watch American films
And your ear just magically
taught you the language?
Aren't you supposed to help me?
Look.
"On the first view,
to say, to swear, I love thee."
I mean, what does "thee" means?
You.
"Thee" is "you." "I love you."
"Thee" is "you"?
Yes, I love you.
I love "thee," you.
What... What is it in Spanish?
Te quiero?
Kind of.
But... the actual translation
of "te quiero"
would be "I want you."
[Alexander] Oh.
Italian?
Ti voglio bene.
[both] I want you good.
[laughter]
So... what is "te amo"?
"Te amo" is a lot.
So just the same
as "I love you"?
"Te amo" in Spanish
means a lot more
than "I love you" in English.
You don't say "te amo"
to everyone.
There's more?
You know how cats look like
they don't care about anyone?
This better be good, Mati.
Wait.
If they choose you,
they look straight
into your eyes.
And they blink.
-Really?
-Yeah.
I don't believe that.
Yeah, it's true.
In Argentina?
In Argentina.
[both speaking Spanish]
-[Jenny] Hey, guys.
-Hi, Jenny. Great concert.
Thanks, Fred Astaire.
[both speaking Spanish]
[Gum] Hi.
-Ciao, Matas.
-Hi, Gum.
-Hi.
-[Paolo] Hey.
Gum.
[speaking Spanish]
[speaking Spanish]
[both speaking Spanish]
[Alexander] Rilke!
"I would be consumed
in that overwhelming existence.
For beauty is nothing
but the beginning of terror,
which we are
just able to endure."
You must be the famous Paolo.
Great to finally meet you.
How long are you staying?
[both speaking Spanish]
[speaking mock Spanish]
-[laughter]
-[Paolo speaking Spanish]
[speaking mock Spanish]
Um, a week.
It's summer break in Argentina.
Oh, a camera...
"I wonder where
the fish has gone?"
"Is it in the cupboard?"
"It was a most elusive fish."
-"And it went...
-[both] "Wherever I did go."
Listen.
Everybody is at Cernizza,
and I want to hear
all about you, Paolo. Come.
[both speaking Spanish]
[percussive music playing]
Here we are.
Friends!
-[singing, cheering]
-One, two, three, go!
[all]
Abebi, Abebi, Abebi, Abebi!
Abebi, Abebi!
[cheers and applause]
I gotta go dance. I'm sorry.
-You should.
-Is that OK? You mind?
-No.
-OK, I'm going to dance.
One, two, three, go!
[both speaking Spanish]
-Mati! -Come on!
-[Matas speaking Spanish]
[speaking Spanish]
[student] One, two, three, go!
Kick your leg like my leg. Yeah!
Mati!
And then I jumped
on a train, 50 hours. And...
And I'm here. So, yeah...
That's my story. Yeah.
Wow. I will never complain
about anything ever again.
-[Misia] Yeah, right.
-And what about you, Alexander?
Why did you come here?
Not quite as dramatic as yours.
My family owns a villa
two hours away.
Money!
-[laughter]
-But...
I've always been obsessed
with UWC,
and I've wanted to come here
since I can remember.
Despite my father wanting me
to go to military school.
-To military school? You?
-Military school? You?
Right. In his defense,
I've always been a nightmare.
There once was a young boy
from Scandinavia.
[laughs]
And you might think it odd
when I say-ah
that despite education
and rank in high station,
he was a tiny little shit
in each and every way-ah.
[Lola] Is that what you told
the headmaster?
-[student 1] Ooh!
-[student 2] Oh!
-Tell me that wasn't funny.
-[Paolo] What?
[laughter]
-What happened?
-[Julka] Well...
Alexander wrote an email
posing as the headmaster,
saying...
"Your presence is kindly
requested without fail."
No, wait, say it
the way I wrote it.
[laughter]
"I would be consumed
in that overwhelming existence,
which we are just
able to endure,
as I request your presence
at my dungeon tonight.
There will be group activities,
like:
cucumber deep throating,
clitoral ticklers and...
-dildo craftsmanship."
-[jeering]
-What's a dildo?
-[laughter]
Tell me that wasn't funny.
[Misia] But you got yourself
a warning.
You're crazy, Alex.
Maybe. Your turn, Puttana.
No...
[Misia] Oh, come on!
[Abebi] You never told us.
[Misia] Tango!
[all] Tango, tango!
Tango, tango, tango!
Tango, tango, tango!
-[Julka] Come on!
-Yeah.
[Matas] I don't know.
I guess I didn't like
living in Argentina.
Why?
Because I always imagined myself
starting from scratch,
where no one knew me.
So... when I saw
that this place existed,
I applied without
telling my family.
I only told him.
My dad is a carpenter,
and my mom has three jobs.
They couldn't say no
to a full scholarship
in Europe, so...
-[Misia] Yeah.
-[Abebi] Yeah, it's true.
Is everybody here
on a scholarship?
-Yep.
-Yeah.
Am I the only asshole
-who's paying?
-Yep.
[laughter]
[bright music]
[piano notes playing]
[teacher]
No. No "to-to-to-ro," ma...
-Allora...
-Allora...
-[laughter]
-[indistinct chatter]
No, no... No, no, no...
[Paolo and Matas
speaking Spanish]
[sighs]
[sighs]
[Federico] Mati!
Hey, Mati! You need to come now!
[dramatic music]
[groans]
Why did you have to do that?
Why do you have to be
the clown all time?
[Alexander] It was just a joke.
But why would you send
another email?
I sent that one the same day
as the first one. I swear.
[Lola] You sent two?
You sent two?
Why would you do that?
What am I gonna tell my parents?
[headmaster]
You expect me to forgive you?
You've been writing
emails in my name!
-[bangs on desk]
-This is foul!
[Alexander]
I'm truly sorry, sir.
[headmaster] I need
to protect this community.
[Alexander]
I've learned my lesson now.
-I know it was not funny.
-Right now,
I am supposed to be meeting
about a student from Ethiopia,
-from a refugee camp!
-I-I will do anything, sir.
[headmaster] Out!
You and your disgusting emails!
-[Alexander] Sir, please--
-[headmaster] I said out!
[door slams]
[Matas] Sir, he's so sorry.
[headmaster]
This is not your battle.
[Matas] But I'll be responsible
for him! I swear!
[headmaster] Leave!
Just go to lunch.
[door slams]
We'll sign a petition.
We'll take it
-to the International Committee.
-It's over.
We'll get signatures.
Lots of them! And--
And everyone will support you!
You're innocent!
That's it. That's...
[both speaking Spanish]
[somber music]
-[Matas] Can you?
-[indistinct]
Guys, I need a signature
and your name.
It's for Alexander.
Guys, please. Can you sign this?
Anyone? Can you sign this?
Can you sign it?
-Please.
-[Lola] Guys, come on.
I wonder where
the fish has gone.
Wouldn't you like to know?
[dramatic music]
[both speaking Spanish]
[Lorena speaking Spanish]
[all speaking Spanish]
[laughter]
[light music]
[speaking Spanish]
[all speaking Spanish]
[laughter]
"And it went..."
-"Whenever I..."
-[Silvio speaking Spanish]
-"...go!"
[Alexander] Everybody is at
Cernizza, and I want to know...
[percussive music playing]
[all speaking Spanish]
[Paolo on video] Mati!
[Alexander]
Village People albums
and dildo craftsmanship.
[Abebi] What's a dildo?
[laughter]
[Veronica speaking Spanish]
[Alexander]
Tell me that wasn't funny.
[Lola] You're crazy, Alex.
[Alexander] But can you tell me
that wasn't funny?
[Lola] No, you're just mad.
[Alexander]
Your turn, Puttana.
-[Lola] Yes.
-[Matas] No, no.
[Julka] Oh, come on!
[speaking Spanish]
[all] Tango! Tango!
[all speaking Spanish]
[dramatic music]
Are you coming?
Want me to get you some food?
I'll tell the tutor
you're still sick, OK?
[Matas] Uh-huh.
Rest up.
[speaking Spanish]
[Misia] Matas!
[Lola] Mati!
This just arrived.
What does it say?
[Misia] What does it say?
[Lola] Just give it here.
"Dear Puttana,
consider yourself invited
to Christmas
to my family's villa.
Please, say yes. Alexander."
[Misia] Are you going to go?
[Lola] You have to go. Come on!
[Misia] If you are not going,
we are going.
[Lola] We gotta go.
If you don't go. I'll go.
[Paolo speaking Spanish]
[Alexander]
Fishy, fishy, fishy! Fish!
A fish. A fish.
Come here.
Great to see you.
Come in!
Ah! Can't believe I finally
get to meet you, Matas!
Come on. Get over here.
[laughs] Come on!
Oh! It's lovely to meet you.
-Nice to meet you too, Didde.
-Let's have a look at you.
Yeah, you're adorable.
You can come in.
-You're stealing my guest.
-[Didde laughs]
Come on. In you come.
Come on, get in from the cold.
Shut that door.
Right. Welcome to our home.
Well, it's our holiday home,
actually.
It used to belong to Alexander's
grandmother Astrid.
But we usually end up here
at Christmas.
Sort of like a family tradition.
Now, don't be scared,
-she did have quite the taste.
-OK, Mom.
Come on. He doesn't need
the whole history lesson.
I'm guessing you've never had
a Swedish Christmas before,
have you, hmm? Fred Astaire.
[laughs]
I'll see you guys at dinner.
All right?
Come on.
My bedroom
is on the first floor.
You will be sleeping with me.
Well, not with me.
Just in my bedroom.
-Wow.
-Chop-chop!
[giggles] Haven't got all day.
I'm gonna show you my room.
-You're going to love it!
-[laughs]
[Gunner] I said, "Sandals?
In Papua New Guinea?
You're gonna get us killed!"
-Oh!
-"Woman," I said,
"Put your boots on
if you want to live another day.
Your toes are like
fish fingers to them."
He did, he did say that.
And then, one of them
had a face, didn't he?
Do you remember?
He had a big old jaw.
I mean, it was like that.
He really actually looked
like he could eat someone.
[Gunner] This was
the only time in my life
I've been truly petrified.
Mm. I can attest to that.
[Gunner]
How on earth were you not?
I'm a surgeon.
Nothing scares me. [laughs]
Talking about frightening, you
have to tell them about Dora.
-The Italian.
-No. I can't.
-I can't.
-[Didde] Why?
It's disgusting...
No. The dirtier, the better.
Mm. No, no. Tell the story.
They're not gonna stop
until you tell it.
Don't worry about me.
I've heard it all before.
I raised these two boys.
I'm not a boy.
I'm your stallion.
[laughter]
OK, so...
We were doing this show
in college
for the second years.
And there is this moment
with Dora, the Italian girl...
-Yes. I like it.
-[laughs]
And...
She is playing our math teacher,
and I'm playing
our physics teacher.
So, but, you know,
we were supposed
to do a stage kiss.
-You kissed the stage?
-[laughter]
No, it's a stage kiss.
It's like a pretend kiss.
I did a bit of drama
when I was in England
before I moved to Sweden
to marry Popeye here.
So, I may have done a couple
of stage kisses in my time.
You hussy! We'll hear your
stories later. Let him finish.
Go on. You were kissing
the floor of the stage.
Right. No, no, no.
Like a long peck mouth closed.
So, I go to kiss her and she...
enters my mouth with her tongue
in front of the entire audience.
It was so awkward.
It was so weird.
-[laughter]
-Oh!
What a bloody cheek!
What did you do?
Well, he let her.
Of course, he did.
Did you? I hope you did.
Was she cute?
N... no.
-Not really.
[Gunner] Yes, she was.
No, it was weird. It was weird.
[Didde] As if there aren't
enough rooms in this house,
but Alexander insisted...
-[Matas] Night.
-[Alexander] Night, night.
[somber music]
[Alexander snores]
You know there is Kungliga
Akademien in Stockholm, right?
The Academy of Fine Art.
I could check
about applications for you.
You know I don't
speak Swedish, Alex.
I can teach you!
It's literally 20 minutes away
from the military college.
Oh. The military college...
Yeah.
I start after New Year's.
Please, don't.
[Matas] Sorry.
[Alexander] It was just a joke.
You know, when I got to Duino,
the only thing I really wanted
was to impress the headmaster.
Look where that got me.
That was not smart.
Was stupid.
I blew my cover.
I joked too much.
Everyone misses you.
[light music]
Do you remember
the opening show?
I could see the terror
in your face.
First day.
Everybody watching you.
But you just did it.
Same thing with the headmaster.
You stood up to him, and your
English got better in a second.
I had never heard you
speak so eloquently.
You had balls.
That's why I love you so much.
-Hey!
-Come on! It's dinner!
-[beeps]
-[Kathrine] Hey, Matas.
Don't ask me
how I got your number.
I really hope you don't mind.
Y-you must think I work
for the CIA or something, I--
I was just wondering
if you've received
the invitation for my wedding
on the 14th of May.
Big kisses.
-Come.
-[beeps]
Kathrine? Oh! Baby!
[Kathrine]
Were you waiting for me?
[Didde] Come on, in you come.
This is Kathrine.
She's just come back
from boarding school
in Provence.
Is my college
the only one in Europe
that keeps the...
students until the 22nd?
-Matas?
-Yes, nice to meet you.
-[growls]
-[speaking Swedish]
[speaking Swedish]
Matas, you can marry
my daughter...
if... you provide a good hunt
and a good wine cellar.
[laughter]
All right.
Would you like some salmon?
-Am I a famous porn star?
-[Alexander] No, Mom.
Am I married
to a football player?
Definitely not. And you can't
ask any more questions.
-[Didde] Why?
-Next.
Okay. My turn. Um...
-Am I a guy?
-Yes.
Am I... clever?
-[Gunner] Yes.
-Yes.
-Am I dead?
-[Didde] Yes.
I'm Dostoevsky.
Oh! Come on!
That's my girl.
-You cheated.
-I did not.
You looked through the glass
at your card.
I still think I'm a famous
porn star or politician.
Cicciolina! Cicciolina!
I'm Cicciolina!
No, Mom, you're not.
Disqualified.
[singing in Swedish]
[singing in Swedish]
[family singing in Swedish]
[laughter]
-Skol! To Matas!
-[all] Skol!
Matas!
You're family now. [chuckles]
I... I want to thank you...
for buying my ticket
and inviting me
to stay here at Christmas.
Well, thank you
for putting up with him.
He's got no friends left.
Honey...
Yeah, well, what you did was
very stupid, son...
Very, very stupid.
Well, I think it was
incredibly unfair.
-And he didn't deserve it.
-Well...
And we've said everything
we need to say about it.
You didn't do
anything wrong, Alex.
I'm sorry, Dad.
Nothing good come out of Duino.
I mean, apart from the fact
that I met you there.
I love you too.
[laughs]
My sensitive Argie.
Hear, hear.
To men loving each other.
[phone ringing]
Excuse me.
-When did you arrive?
-[Didde] Hello?
-On Wednesday.
-[Didde] Matas?
Yes!
Ah! Mama Roma!
[laughs]
It's Mama Didde!
Yes, yes, Matas is here.
Matas, it's your mom.
Hang on. Just wait. Wait, wait.
It's your mom on the phone.
[speaking Spanish]
They bought flight tickets
to come... to come here.
[stammers] Um, you can come
and spend Christmas...
Oh, how do you say it?
How do you say it?
Navidad.
Navidad aqui.
Just tell them to come to us.
And I won't take no
for an answer.
[door clatters]
-Boo!
-[slams]
[laughter]
-May I have some?
-Yeah, of course.
[fork clatters]
You take pictures?
How do you know that?
Because I saw the camera
in Alexander's room.
What do you photograph?
Landscapes and...
faces. I-I love faces.
What do you love about faces?
How to make them
the most beautiful they can be.
How about you?
I love the universe.
I love the stars.
I'm going to be
the first woman on Mars.
Wow!
Will you photograph me one day?
I would love to know
how you see my face.
Yeah, sure.
Cool.
-What do I do now?
-Oh.
Can you sit by that rock?
[Kathrine] Yeah.
Like this?
Yeah, and look over
your left shoulder.
Yeah.
[camera shutter clicks]
Come here.
Come here.
OK.
Can you look at me
as if you were...
...dead?
Dead? Like...?
Yeah.
[camera shutter clicks]
There's something really sexy
about an artistic guy.
Some people would have
a problem with that.
Those people are stupid.
You're beautiful.
You're beautiful.
[camera shutter clicks]
[snoring]
He has such a funny snore,
doesn't he?
Yes. He's a little piggy.
[both laugh]
What are you two laughing at?
[Kathrine] Nothing, Mom.
Look at him.
Come on. Time for bed.
No, no, no, no.
You guys, stay. Stay.
Enjoy the fire.
Got a bit more burn yet.
-[grumbles]
-Come on, you.
Oh, up you come. God!
-When did you get so heavy?
-[groans]
[laughs] Come on. Oh!
That's it. Good boy.
-[exhales]
-[groans]
-Night, night.
-Mmm...
[piano notes playing]
Hello.
[bright piano music playing]
[music stops]
Do you like my sister?
W-what did you say?
Do you like my sister?
What?
She's your sister.
So?
No, she's... She's your twin.
And?
-No!
-Are you sure?
Yeah.
OK.
Just checking.
[bright piano music playing]
-[Didde] Look, look.
-[music stops]
Look who I found. [laughs]
Hola!
[speaking Spanish]
[laughter]
[all speaking Spanish]
[Didde]
This is Alexander, my son.
Pleased to meet you. Alexander.
[speaking Spanish]
-Pleased to meet you.
-[speaking Spanish]
-Welcome. Gunner.
-[Silvio speaking Spanish]
Thank you!
[indistinct chatter]
[soft music]
Um, uh... In English?
[indistinct chatter]
He's told that a million times.
I'm so sorry.
[laughter]
[speaking Spanish]
[Didde] Oh, I don't understand!
[chuckles]
Oh, I don't understand. I feel
so stupid. I don't understand.
-[Roma] Beautiful.
-Oh, yes!
-What do you say?
-[in Spanish]
[both speaking Italian]
Can we adopt him?
He's such a good boy.
Can we adopt him?
[speaking Spanish]
[Didde] Yes. Adoptar.
-[speaking Spanish]
-[Didde] I've crossed the line.
-[speaking Spanish]
-[Didde] Fair enough.
He's been really...
He's been such a good boy.
It's been lovely
to have him here.
[laughter]
[playing piano]
[laughter]
Go, go. Yes, yes, go on.
[indistinct chatter]
One... and two...
That's good.
-Did you learn before?
-No!
-Did you learn before?
-No!
-She's really good.
-[Kathrine yelps]
-[cheering]
-[Roma] Bravo! Bravo!
[Alexander snoring]
[heartbeat thumping]
[Alexander snoring]
[breathing heavily]
[laughter]
[speaking Spanish]
-[laughs]
-Kathrine!
[laughs]
[Matas] I think my favorite one
is Cinema Paradiso.
For me, it's Spice World.
It's up there with
Schindler's List and The Piano.
Where did you learn to tango?
It's his family tradition.
And how do you do
that hooky step?
-Oh, do you mean the sacada?
-Yeah.
Do I cross my leg
in front or...?
OK. Just... feel...
Feel my signal here,
on your back, and follow. OK?
[Kathrine] Like when a man
tells a woman what to do.
OK. Just... Your feet.
-Like this?
-Yeah. This one.
-I go like this.
-[yelps]
-And we will turn around.
-That's so cool.
Bravo.
Why are you here?
What do you mean?
Always around
like a fucking mosquito.
-[Matas] Hey. It's OK.
-No, it's not.
[both grunting]
-Ma-- Ahh!
-Hey! Hey, hey, hey, hey!
-[screaming]
-Stop! Stop! Stop, stop! Hey!
-[panting]
-Are you OK?
What's wrong with you?
-What are you doing?
-What do you mean?
What the fuck are you doing?
What the fuck
are you doing with my sister?
My family is not an opportunity
for you to get laid.
If you break her heart,
I'll fucking kill you.
You coming?
-[Roma speaking Spanish]
-All right. OK. OK, sorry.
-[speaking Spanish]
-[Didde] Yes.
[both speaking Spanish]
Oh, OK, one. Sorry.
[laughter]
Right. In you go.
Oh, um...
Kathrine.
The way she...
The way she looks at Matas.
[speaking Spanish]
[laughs]
I think she's got
a huge crush... a big crush.
Oh, how do you say? Um...
[smacks lips]
She... She likes him.
I think she likes him.
[speaking Spanish]
[Didde] The boys... They've...
The boys.
They've, uh...
They've got
a very strong friendship.
Haven't they? Very strong.
-Yeah.
-[speaking Spanish]
Do you think it's dangerous?
No.
-No.
-Yeah.
[laughter]
Now...
What are we doing here?
[somber music]
[Didde] So lovely to see you.
Will you come again next year?
[Kathrine] Hey, hey, hey.
What?
I think I'm falling
in love with you.
-What?
-I love you.
[Matas] I-I love you too.
[indistinct chatter]
-Yeah.
-So lovely for you too come.
We will definitely go
to Argentina.
It was good to have you. Yes.
-Well, young man.
-[speaking Spanish]
Good to have you.
Thank you for coming.
[Roma speaking Spanish]
Yes, yes. I don't know
what I'm saying yes to.
-Now, listen, what about...
-Yeah.
[Didde] We'll go to Argentina
next Christmas.
[Gunner] Why not?
[laughter, indistinct chatter]
I... I'll miss you, my friend.
Wait for me.
Have a great winter, Kathrine.
-[speaking Spanish]
-Bye-bye.
-[Roma speaking Spanish]
-Bye-bye. Safe journey.
[Roma speaking Spanish]
[engine turning over]
[announcer speaking Italian
over radio]
[Roma speaking Spanish]
[dramatic music]
[speaking Spanish]
[Matas sobbing]
[speaking Spanish]
[sobbing]
[somber music]
[speaking Spanish]
[whirring]
[dramatic music]
[knock at door]
[speaking Spanish]
[sighs]
-[indistinct]
-No, say it the way I wrote it.
"I would be consumed
in that overwhelming existence,
which we are just
able to endure,
as I request your presence
at my dungeon tonight."
-Come on!
-[Julka] Oh, come on!
[all] Tango, tango!
Tango, tango, tango!
[haunting choral music]
[Paolo] Hey, Alexander.
[Lola] Really?
[Paolo] Some last words
for the camera?
-[Lola] Come on.
-[Paolo] For Matas?
Something for another time?
[dramatic music]
[clacking]
[whirring]
[Paolo] Some last words
for the camera?
[Lola] Come on.
[Paolo] For Matas?
Something for another time?
-[beeps]
-[Kathrine] Hey, Matas.
Kathrine again.
You must be so busy.
I was thinking
that even if you can't make it
to the wedding,
I'm gonna put your name
on the guest list regardless,
in case you happen
to fly to Italy.
It would mean the world
to have you there.
Alexander wants to see you too.
[music intensifying]
[man snoring]
[snoring continues]
[bright music]
Matas!
What?
-Oh!
-[laughter]
-Yeah. This one? Oops.
-Oh!
-How are you? Good to see you.
-Hi!
You're so pregnant,
I can't believe it.
I know.
It's so good to see you.
Come on.
-How are you?
-Good.
I read online you're making
a movie about Duino.
I can't believe
you're picking me up.
I could have taken a taxi.
Picking you up is nothing.
You are amazing.
I'm so excited you're here.
[Matas] I'm really sorry
about your parents.
Thank you.
They really loved you, you know?
It was just one Christmas,
but they saw you like a son.
OK, Mr. Filmmaker. [laughs]
I'm gonna take you
to your hotel.
I'm sure you'll love it.
[gentle piano music]
[indistinct chatter]
What a surprise!
Somebody loves me
I wonder who
But it must be odd!
Talking about your life on film?
Yeah, it's a little odd.
[Alexander]
And how about real life?
Well, I moved to London
in the 2000s.
To study dance.
-Wow.
-Yeah.
Yeah, but...
with scoliosis and flat feet...
kind of difficult
to be Fred Astaire.
[laughter]
Fell in and out of love
with anyone
who paid me any attention.
Puttana.
Yeah, pretty much.
[laughs]
Then I went...
I moved back to Buenos Aires.
A little lost, actually.
Yeah, I know the feeling.
[singer] Somebody loves me
I wonder who
How about you?
Me?
Well, I...
I graduated.
I... got married.
Got divorced.
And then I started working
with the royal family's
business affairs. And...
Yeah, that's pretty much it.
I mean, riveting stuff.
That's pretty much it?
Yeah, yeah.
There's not much more to tell.
May I dance with my brother?
Of course, of course. Yes.
My honor. My honor.
Maybe it's you
[applause]
[tender music]
[Alexander] And then, he goes,
"Whenever a society
is stricken ill,
one must rid of the past."
He sounds like an asshole.
My ex-wife used to call me that.
Ex-wife?
Yeah.
So... How about her?
Well, for starters,
our sex life at 35
was less passionate
than my parents' at 60.
And you know that because...
Because we got home one night
to my parents' place
after some dull party.
It was the middle of the night,
and suddenly we heard
this furious barking.
[barks sharply]
I got really frightened
and I ran upstairs.
And it was coming
from my parents' bedroom.
The thing is...
they never owned a dog.
[laughs]
To Didde and Gunner.
-[glasses clink]
-[Alexander] Mm.
It's strange...
how things can disintegrate
so quickly.
I've had it for years now,
this dream.
And...
in it, I-I see myself from above
like I'm watching someone else.
Like a mouse trapped in a maze.
And I'm... I'm frantically
digging through this dumpster
where I know I've hidden
the body of someone I...
...killed.
And I'm...
checking...
to see if it's still there.
And when I...
F... When I finally find it,
I feel this...
...massive relief.
[somber music]
I-I... I could never kill any...
Anyone.
But...
No matter what,
that overwhelming...
guilt...
never leaves me.
Maybe you should get rid
of the dead body.
[upbeat piano music playing]
Ooh, ooh, ooh!
The African dance!
[vocalizing]
You remember it.
Come on, come on, come on!
Come on, come on! Do it!
Come, come, come,
come, come, come.
[both grunt]
[laughter]
All right.
[breathes heavily]
[groaning]
[dramatic music]
Thank you.
Where's the husband?
Totally passed out
in the master bedroom.
You're gonna be a great mom.
[Kathrine chuckles]
-Don't go.
-Hmm.
I do love it here.
Stay.
I can't.
[Alexander]
She's married already.
And I doubt that kid is yours.
Why are you always around?
Don't make it
another 24 years, OK?
Well...
write sometime, OK?
I have.
Many times.
You think you know yourself
when you are a kid.
But you don't know anything.
Because you can't predict that.
What?
That thing. That...
feeling that stops you
in your tracks.
That doesn't let you breathe.
Because when it's happening,
you don't know that you'll
never feel it again for anyone.
And with time,
you really wish...
you would.
Memory is sneaky.
It's inaccurate.
And then, one day,
you see old images
of that boy you were, that...
scared,
stupid and brave
little boy you were.
And you realize
you've added things to the past.
And now, here it is, for real.
That face.
This gate, the staircase,
this house.
The record of reality,
exactly as it was.
As it is.
Right now.
This is me.
I'll miss you, old friend.
I'll miss you too.
[both speaking Italian]
[romantic music]
[singer singing in Italian]
[dramatic music]
[singer singing in Spanish]
[camera shutter clicks]
[camera shutter clicks]
[camera shutter clicks]
[bright music]
[camera shutter clicks]
[camera shutter clicks]
[camera shutter clicks]
[crowd cheering]
[banging on van]
[people speaking Spanish]
[cheers and applause]
[banging on van]
-[Misia] Matas?
-[Matas] Yeah.
Hi, I'm Misia, from Poland.
So nice to meet you.
-I'm Matthew, from New York.
-I'm Lola, from England.
-Did you land all right?
-And how was your flight?
-Good. It was good.
-See you at the show.
-Yes. See you.
-Ciao.
-Pala, right?
-Yes, room 12.
-What's Pala?
-Um,
Pala, also known as "Palazzine,"
is one of the many residences
spread across Duino.
-And it's all really confusing--
-Where are you going?
-To Pala.
-No. You can't go to Pala.
[speaking Polish]
The show is at 5:30, not at 6.
We have to go now!
-What did you bring?
-Let's go.
I think I heard the room
was room five.
We have to go. Go, go, go.
-Every night...
-Fede...
Federico, why are you
still here?
-I'm rehearsing!
-You're late!
What do you mean I'm late?
Hi, I'm Federico.
The show's not at 6, it's
at 5:30, and you're opening!
[indistinct chatter]
[orchestra tuning]
You just sit here
and enjoy the show.
-We have to go.
-Ciao.
[announcer] In the beginning,
there was chaos.
And the national
selection panel.
The place: Duino!
[cheers and applause]
First years!
You've been officially hijacked
for the next three years
of your life!
There will be singing,
there will be dancing.
There will be nights spent
writing, impossible deadlines.
There will be languages
you've never heard of
and smells you've never thought
humanly possible.
I'm talking to you, roomie.
And now, for the first time
at UWC Adriatic,
the second years of Duino!
Let's go!
[upbeat music playing]
Cazzo. Merda. Puttana!
[cheers and applause]
I'm so, so, so sorry,
but I have to do it.
-Come.
-[Matas] No, please.
-Come, it's fine. It's fine.
-No. No.
Let's give him
a round of applause!
Come, come.
I'm not gonna bite you. Come.
It's OK, really.
Matas, from Argentina!
[cheers and applause]
Every year, on the welcome show,
a first year needs to perform.
What is your traditional dance
from your country?
I don't know.
[student] Of course, you know!
It's tango!
[all] Tango, tango, tango!
-They all want tango!
-[all] Tango, tango!
-I can't do it.
-Come on, you can do it.
Stay, stay, stay.
For me. For them.
No one will laugh. I promise.
[tango music playing]
It's OK. We even have music.
[all] Tango, tango, tango!
Come on, it's fine. Yeah?
Well, you just...
Just put your hand here.
And just close your eyes
and follow my lead.
[cheers and applause]
[laughter and applause]
[cheers and applause]
You did it great!
[all] Matas, Matas!
Matas, Matas!
Matas, Matas! Matas, Matas!
[cheers and applause]
[student 1] I like your moves.
You have to teach me sometime.
That was amazing, man.
Hi, hi, excuse me.
Hello everybody.
I'm Alexander, I'm a first year.
Pleased to meet you all.
-Hi. You're first year? Me too.
-[Abebi] Yeah.
Hey. Alexander, from Sweden.
That was astonishing!
You're like an Argentinian
Fred Astaire!
-No, I'm not Fred Astaire.
-Yes, you are.
I need to be your friend.
Wait, where are you guys going?
-Uh...
-To Yohana's room.
-Who's Yohana?
-A second year.
-Are we going?
-Do you want to join us?
-Yeah.
-She's just come over.
-Should we go? Let's go.
-Yeah.
Have you seen
The Meaning of Life?
[Matas] Oh... No.
Have you seen
The Meaning of Life?
[Abebi] I... No.
[Alexander] We'll watch
The Meaning of Life.
[Paolo speaking Spanish]
[all speaking Spanish]
[light music]
[siren wailing]
Um...
[both speaking Spanish]
[laughs]
[person speaking Spanish]
[dramatic music playing]
[music stops]
[sighs]
[light music]
[Matas] This place is crazy.
Crazy was the evil knight
who once lived here.
[Matas] The evil what?
Evil knight!
Be careful,
because it's very slippery.
Come, quickly.
I want to show you up here.
But, also, be careful.
I don't want to be responsible
for your death, you know?
It is said that once upon a time
this castle was home
to an evil, jealous knight
who had a beautiful,
beautiful and kind wife
called Esterina da Portole.
She was so beloved
by the people of Duino.
Everybody loved her
and she loved them.
And this drove the knight
wild with jealousy.
So, one night,
he wrapped her in a beautiful
piece of white silk,
and he lured her all the way
around the castle walls
up the steps and into
the tallest tower. This one.
And he pulled her in very close,
like this.
And he said to her,
"If you can't love me,
and only me,
then you will love nobody."
And he pushed her
out of the window!
And her body went flying!
No!
But before her body
hit the water,
it became rock.
The white rock that sits
directly beneath
where we are right now.
-The Dama Bianca.
-You are full of shit.
No, not I'm not full of shit.
That's a true story.
-You made that up.
-No! I didn't!
She walks around Duino
now as a ghost.
"Ma che fai? Non mi uccidere,
cavaliere. No!"
[laughs]
[Matas] Wait, wait!
[muffled banging on door]
[banging on door]
[sighs]
[both speaking Spanish]
This steak is raw.
[translates in Spanish]
[repeats in Spanish]
[laughs]
I would like to have
sexual relations with you.
[speaking Spanish]
[laughs]
It was good, huh?
It was good?
-My Spanish is getting good.
-Mmm.
You know,
your English is excellent.
No, it's not.
Yes, it is. Really is.
Yours is amazing.
Mummy's British.
How did you learn it?
I watch American films
And your ear just magically
taught you the language?
Aren't you supposed to help me?
Look.
"On the first view,
to say, to swear, I love thee."
I mean, what does "thee" means?
You.
"Thee" is "you." "I love you."
"Thee" is "you"?
Yes, I love you.
I love "thee," you.
What... What is it in Spanish?
Te quiero?
Kind of.
But... the actual translation
of "te quiero"
would be "I want you."
[Alexander] Oh.
Italian?
Ti voglio bene.
[both] I want you good.
[laughter]
So... what is "te amo"?
"Te amo" is a lot.
So just the same
as "I love you"?
"Te amo" in Spanish
means a lot more
than "I love you" in English.
You don't say "te amo"
to everyone.
There's more?
You know how cats look like
they don't care about anyone?
This better be good, Mati.
Wait.
If they choose you,
they look straight
into your eyes.
And they blink.
-Really?
-Yeah.
I don't believe that.
Yeah, it's true.
In Argentina?
In Argentina.
[both speaking Spanish]
-[Jenny] Hey, guys.
-Hi, Jenny. Great concert.
Thanks, Fred Astaire.
[both speaking Spanish]
[Gum] Hi.
-Ciao, Matas.
-Hi, Gum.
-Hi.
-[Paolo] Hey.
Gum.
[speaking Spanish]
[speaking Spanish]
[both speaking Spanish]
[Alexander] Rilke!
"I would be consumed
in that overwhelming existence.
For beauty is nothing
but the beginning of terror,
which we are
just able to endure."
You must be the famous Paolo.
Great to finally meet you.
How long are you staying?
[both speaking Spanish]
[speaking mock Spanish]
-[laughter]
-[Paolo speaking Spanish]
[speaking mock Spanish]
Um, a week.
It's summer break in Argentina.
Oh, a camera...
"I wonder where
the fish has gone?"
"Is it in the cupboard?"
"It was a most elusive fish."
-"And it went...
-[both] "Wherever I did go."
Listen.
Everybody is at Cernizza,
and I want to hear
all about you, Paolo. Come.
[both speaking Spanish]
[percussive music playing]
Here we are.
Friends!
-[singing, cheering]
-One, two, three, go!
[all]
Abebi, Abebi, Abebi, Abebi!
Abebi, Abebi!
[cheers and applause]
I gotta go dance. I'm sorry.
-You should.
-Is that OK? You mind?
-No.
-OK, I'm going to dance.
One, two, three, go!
[both speaking Spanish]
-Mati! -Come on!
-[Matas speaking Spanish]
[speaking Spanish]
[student] One, two, three, go!
Kick your leg like my leg. Yeah!
Mati!
And then I jumped
on a train, 50 hours. And...
And I'm here. So, yeah...
That's my story. Yeah.
Wow. I will never complain
about anything ever again.
-[Misia] Yeah, right.
-And what about you, Alexander?
Why did you come here?
Not quite as dramatic as yours.
My family owns a villa
two hours away.
Money!
-[laughter]
-But...
I've always been obsessed
with UWC,
and I've wanted to come here
since I can remember.
Despite my father wanting me
to go to military school.
-To military school? You?
-Military school? You?
Right. In his defense,
I've always been a nightmare.
There once was a young boy
from Scandinavia.
[laughs]
And you might think it odd
when I say-ah
that despite education
and rank in high station,
he was a tiny little shit
in each and every way-ah.
[Lola] Is that what you told
the headmaster?
-[student 1] Ooh!
-[student 2] Oh!
-Tell me that wasn't funny.
-[Paolo] What?
[laughter]
-What happened?
-[Julka] Well...
Alexander wrote an email
posing as the headmaster,
saying...
"Your presence is kindly
requested without fail."
No, wait, say it
the way I wrote it.
[laughter]
"I would be consumed
in that overwhelming existence,
which we are just
able to endure,
as I request your presence
at my dungeon tonight.
There will be group activities,
like:
cucumber deep throating,
clitoral ticklers and...
-dildo craftsmanship."
-[jeering]
-What's a dildo?
-[laughter]
Tell me that wasn't funny.
[Misia] But you got yourself
a warning.
You're crazy, Alex.
Maybe. Your turn, Puttana.
No...
[Misia] Oh, come on!
[Abebi] You never told us.
[Misia] Tango!
[all] Tango, tango!
Tango, tango, tango!
Tango, tango, tango!
-[Julka] Come on!
-Yeah.
[Matas] I don't know.
I guess I didn't like
living in Argentina.
Why?
Because I always imagined myself
starting from scratch,
where no one knew me.
So... when I saw
that this place existed,
I applied without
telling my family.
I only told him.
My dad is a carpenter,
and my mom has three jobs.
They couldn't say no
to a full scholarship
in Europe, so...
-[Misia] Yeah.
-[Abebi] Yeah, it's true.
Is everybody here
on a scholarship?
-Yep.
-Yeah.
Am I the only asshole
-who's paying?
-Yep.
[laughter]
[bright music]
[piano notes playing]
[teacher]
No. No "to-to-to-ro," ma...
-Allora...
-Allora...
-[laughter]
-[indistinct chatter]
No, no... No, no, no...
[Paolo and Matas
speaking Spanish]
[sighs]
[sighs]
[Federico] Mati!
Hey, Mati! You need to come now!
[dramatic music]
[groans]
Why did you have to do that?
Why do you have to be
the clown all time?
[Alexander] It was just a joke.
But why would you send
another email?
I sent that one the same day
as the first one. I swear.
[Lola] You sent two?
You sent two?
Why would you do that?
What am I gonna tell my parents?
[headmaster]
You expect me to forgive you?
You've been writing
emails in my name!
-[bangs on desk]
-This is foul!
[Alexander]
I'm truly sorry, sir.
[headmaster] I need
to protect this community.
[Alexander]
I've learned my lesson now.
-I know it was not funny.
-Right now,
I am supposed to be meeting
about a student from Ethiopia,
-from a refugee camp!
-I-I will do anything, sir.
[headmaster] Out!
You and your disgusting emails!
-[Alexander] Sir, please--
-[headmaster] I said out!
[door slams]
[Matas] Sir, he's so sorry.
[headmaster]
This is not your battle.
[Matas] But I'll be responsible
for him! I swear!
[headmaster] Leave!
Just go to lunch.
[door slams]
We'll sign a petition.
We'll take it
-to the International Committee.
-It's over.
We'll get signatures.
Lots of them! And--
And everyone will support you!
You're innocent!
That's it. That's...
[both speaking Spanish]
[somber music]
-[Matas] Can you?
-[indistinct]
Guys, I need a signature
and your name.
It's for Alexander.
Guys, please. Can you sign this?
Anyone? Can you sign this?
Can you sign it?
-Please.
-[Lola] Guys, come on.
I wonder where
the fish has gone.
Wouldn't you like to know?
[dramatic music]
[both speaking Spanish]
[Lorena speaking Spanish]
[all speaking Spanish]
[laughter]
[light music]
[speaking Spanish]
[all speaking Spanish]
[laughter]
"And it went..."
-"Whenever I..."
-[Silvio speaking Spanish]
-"...go!"
[Alexander] Everybody is at
Cernizza, and I want to know...
[percussive music playing]
[all speaking Spanish]
[Paolo on video] Mati!
[Alexander]
Village People albums
and dildo craftsmanship.
[Abebi] What's a dildo?
[laughter]
[Veronica speaking Spanish]
[Alexander]
Tell me that wasn't funny.
[Lola] You're crazy, Alex.
[Alexander] But can you tell me
that wasn't funny?
[Lola] No, you're just mad.
[Alexander]
Your turn, Puttana.
-[Lola] Yes.
-[Matas] No, no.
[Julka] Oh, come on!
[speaking Spanish]
[all] Tango! Tango!
[all speaking Spanish]
[dramatic music]
Are you coming?
Want me to get you some food?
I'll tell the tutor
you're still sick, OK?
[Matas] Uh-huh.
Rest up.
[speaking Spanish]
[Misia] Matas!
[Lola] Mati!
This just arrived.
What does it say?
[Misia] What does it say?
[Lola] Just give it here.
"Dear Puttana,
consider yourself invited
to Christmas
to my family's villa.
Please, say yes. Alexander."
[Misia] Are you going to go?
[Lola] You have to go. Come on!
[Misia] If you are not going,
we are going.
[Lola] We gotta go.
If you don't go. I'll go.
[Paolo speaking Spanish]
[Alexander]
Fishy, fishy, fishy! Fish!
A fish. A fish.
Come here.
Great to see you.
Come in!
Ah! Can't believe I finally
get to meet you, Matas!
Come on. Get over here.
[laughs] Come on!
Oh! It's lovely to meet you.
-Nice to meet you too, Didde.
-Let's have a look at you.
Yeah, you're adorable.
You can come in.
-You're stealing my guest.
-[Didde laughs]
Come on. In you come.
Come on, get in from the cold.
Shut that door.
Right. Welcome to our home.
Well, it's our holiday home,
actually.
It used to belong to Alexander's
grandmother Astrid.
But we usually end up here
at Christmas.
Sort of like a family tradition.
Now, don't be scared,
-she did have quite the taste.
-OK, Mom.
Come on. He doesn't need
the whole history lesson.
I'm guessing you've never had
a Swedish Christmas before,
have you, hmm? Fred Astaire.
[laughs]
I'll see you guys at dinner.
All right?
Come on.
My bedroom
is on the first floor.
You will be sleeping with me.
Well, not with me.
Just in my bedroom.
-Wow.
-Chop-chop!
[giggles] Haven't got all day.
I'm gonna show you my room.
-You're going to love it!
-[laughs]
[Gunner] I said, "Sandals?
In Papua New Guinea?
You're gonna get us killed!"
-Oh!
-"Woman," I said,
"Put your boots on
if you want to live another day.
Your toes are like
fish fingers to them."
He did, he did say that.
And then, one of them
had a face, didn't he?
Do you remember?
He had a big old jaw.
I mean, it was like that.
He really actually looked
like he could eat someone.
[Gunner] This was
the only time in my life
I've been truly petrified.
Mm. I can attest to that.
[Gunner]
How on earth were you not?
I'm a surgeon.
Nothing scares me. [laughs]
Talking about frightening, you
have to tell them about Dora.
-The Italian.
-No. I can't.
-I can't.
-[Didde] Why?
It's disgusting...
No. The dirtier, the better.
Mm. No, no. Tell the story.
They're not gonna stop
until you tell it.
Don't worry about me.
I've heard it all before.
I raised these two boys.
I'm not a boy.
I'm your stallion.
[laughter]
OK, so...
We were doing this show
in college
for the second years.
And there is this moment
with Dora, the Italian girl...
-Yes. I like it.
-[laughs]
And...
She is playing our math teacher,
and I'm playing
our physics teacher.
So, but, you know,
we were supposed
to do a stage kiss.
-You kissed the stage?
-[laughter]
No, it's a stage kiss.
It's like a pretend kiss.
I did a bit of drama
when I was in England
before I moved to Sweden
to marry Popeye here.
So, I may have done a couple
of stage kisses in my time.
You hussy! We'll hear your
stories later. Let him finish.
Go on. You were kissing
the floor of the stage.
Right. No, no, no.
Like a long peck mouth closed.
So, I go to kiss her and she...
enters my mouth with her tongue
in front of the entire audience.
It was so awkward.
It was so weird.
-[laughter]
-Oh!
What a bloody cheek!
What did you do?
Well, he let her.
Of course, he did.
Did you? I hope you did.
Was she cute?
N... no.
-Not really.
[Gunner] Yes, she was.
No, it was weird. It was weird.
[Didde] As if there aren't
enough rooms in this house,
but Alexander insisted...
-[Matas] Night.
-[Alexander] Night, night.
[somber music]
[Alexander snores]
You know there is Kungliga
Akademien in Stockholm, right?
The Academy of Fine Art.
I could check
about applications for you.
You know I don't
speak Swedish, Alex.
I can teach you!
It's literally 20 minutes away
from the military college.
Oh. The military college...
Yeah.
I start after New Year's.
Please, don't.
[Matas] Sorry.
[Alexander] It was just a joke.
You know, when I got to Duino,
the only thing I really wanted
was to impress the headmaster.
Look where that got me.
That was not smart.
Was stupid.
I blew my cover.
I joked too much.
Everyone misses you.
[light music]
Do you remember
the opening show?
I could see the terror
in your face.
First day.
Everybody watching you.
But you just did it.
Same thing with the headmaster.
You stood up to him, and your
English got better in a second.
I had never heard you
speak so eloquently.
You had balls.
That's why I love you so much.
-Hey!
-Come on! It's dinner!
-[beeps]
-[Kathrine] Hey, Matas.
Don't ask me
how I got your number.
I really hope you don't mind.
Y-you must think I work
for the CIA or something, I--
I was just wondering
if you've received
the invitation for my wedding
on the 14th of May.
Big kisses.
-Come.
-[beeps]
Kathrine? Oh! Baby!
[Kathrine]
Were you waiting for me?
[Didde] Come on, in you come.
This is Kathrine.
She's just come back
from boarding school
in Provence.
Is my college
the only one in Europe
that keeps the...
students until the 22nd?
-Matas?
-Yes, nice to meet you.
-[growls]
-[speaking Swedish]
[speaking Swedish]
Matas, you can marry
my daughter...
if... you provide a good hunt
and a good wine cellar.
[laughter]
All right.
Would you like some salmon?
-Am I a famous porn star?
-[Alexander] No, Mom.
Am I married
to a football player?
Definitely not. And you can't
ask any more questions.
-[Didde] Why?
-Next.
Okay. My turn. Um...
-Am I a guy?
-Yes.
Am I... clever?
-[Gunner] Yes.
-Yes.
-Am I dead?
-[Didde] Yes.
I'm Dostoevsky.
Oh! Come on!
That's my girl.
-You cheated.
-I did not.
You looked through the glass
at your card.
I still think I'm a famous
porn star or politician.
Cicciolina! Cicciolina!
I'm Cicciolina!
No, Mom, you're not.
Disqualified.
[singing in Swedish]
[singing in Swedish]
[family singing in Swedish]
[laughter]
-Skol! To Matas!
-[all] Skol!
Matas!
You're family now. [chuckles]
I... I want to thank you...
for buying my ticket
and inviting me
to stay here at Christmas.
Well, thank you
for putting up with him.
He's got no friends left.
Honey...
Yeah, well, what you did was
very stupid, son...
Very, very stupid.
Well, I think it was
incredibly unfair.
-And he didn't deserve it.
-Well...
And we've said everything
we need to say about it.
You didn't do
anything wrong, Alex.
I'm sorry, Dad.
Nothing good come out of Duino.
I mean, apart from the fact
that I met you there.
I love you too.
[laughs]
My sensitive Argie.
Hear, hear.
To men loving each other.
[phone ringing]
Excuse me.
-When did you arrive?
-[Didde] Hello?
-On Wednesday.
-[Didde] Matas?
Yes!
Ah! Mama Roma!
[laughs]
It's Mama Didde!
Yes, yes, Matas is here.
Matas, it's your mom.
Hang on. Just wait. Wait, wait.
It's your mom on the phone.
[speaking Spanish]
They bought flight tickets
to come... to come here.
[stammers] Um, you can come
and spend Christmas...
Oh, how do you say it?
How do you say it?
Navidad.
Navidad aqui.
Just tell them to come to us.
And I won't take no
for an answer.
[door clatters]
-Boo!
-[slams]
[laughter]
-May I have some?
-Yeah, of course.
[fork clatters]
You take pictures?
How do you know that?
Because I saw the camera
in Alexander's room.
What do you photograph?
Landscapes and...
faces. I-I love faces.
What do you love about faces?
How to make them
the most beautiful they can be.
How about you?
I love the universe.
I love the stars.
I'm going to be
the first woman on Mars.
Wow!
Will you photograph me one day?
I would love to know
how you see my face.
Yeah, sure.
Cool.
-What do I do now?
-Oh.
Can you sit by that rock?
[Kathrine] Yeah.
Like this?
Yeah, and look over
your left shoulder.
Yeah.
[camera shutter clicks]
Come here.
Come here.
OK.
Can you look at me
as if you were...
...dead?
Dead? Like...?
Yeah.
[camera shutter clicks]
There's something really sexy
about an artistic guy.
Some people would have
a problem with that.
Those people are stupid.
You're beautiful.
You're beautiful.
[camera shutter clicks]
[snoring]
He has such a funny snore,
doesn't he?
Yes. He's a little piggy.
[both laugh]
What are you two laughing at?
[Kathrine] Nothing, Mom.
Look at him.
Come on. Time for bed.
No, no, no, no.
You guys, stay. Stay.
Enjoy the fire.
Got a bit more burn yet.
-[grumbles]
-Come on, you.
Oh, up you come. God!
-When did you get so heavy?
-[groans]
[laughs] Come on. Oh!
That's it. Good boy.
-[exhales]
-[groans]
-Night, night.
-Mmm...
[piano notes playing]
Hello.
[bright piano music playing]
[music stops]
Do you like my sister?
W-what did you say?
Do you like my sister?
What?
She's your sister.
So?
No, she's... She's your twin.
And?
-No!
-Are you sure?
Yeah.
OK.
Just checking.
[bright piano music playing]
-[Didde] Look, look.
-[music stops]
Look who I found. [laughs]
Hola!
[speaking Spanish]
[laughter]
[all speaking Spanish]
[Didde]
This is Alexander, my son.
Pleased to meet you. Alexander.
[speaking Spanish]
-Pleased to meet you.
-[speaking Spanish]
-Welcome. Gunner.
-[Silvio speaking Spanish]
Thank you!
[indistinct chatter]
[soft music]
Um, uh... In English?
[indistinct chatter]
He's told that a million times.
I'm so sorry.
[laughter]
[speaking Spanish]
[Didde] Oh, I don't understand!
[chuckles]
Oh, I don't understand. I feel
so stupid. I don't understand.
-[Roma] Beautiful.
-Oh, yes!
-What do you say?
-[in Spanish]
[both speaking Italian]
Can we adopt him?
He's such a good boy.
Can we adopt him?
[speaking Spanish]
[Didde] Yes. Adoptar.
-[speaking Spanish]
-[Didde] I've crossed the line.
-[speaking Spanish]
-[Didde] Fair enough.
He's been really...
He's been such a good boy.
It's been lovely
to have him here.
[laughter]
[playing piano]
[laughter]
Go, go. Yes, yes, go on.
[indistinct chatter]
One... and two...
That's good.
-Did you learn before?
-No!
-Did you learn before?
-No!
-She's really good.
-[Kathrine yelps]
-[cheering]
-[Roma] Bravo! Bravo!
[Alexander snoring]
[heartbeat thumping]
[Alexander snoring]
[breathing heavily]
[laughter]
[speaking Spanish]
-[laughs]
-Kathrine!
[laughs]
[Matas] I think my favorite one
is Cinema Paradiso.
For me, it's Spice World.
It's up there with
Schindler's List and The Piano.
Where did you learn to tango?
It's his family tradition.
And how do you do
that hooky step?
-Oh, do you mean the sacada?
-Yeah.
Do I cross my leg
in front or...?
OK. Just... feel...
Feel my signal here,
on your back, and follow. OK?
[Kathrine] Like when a man
tells a woman what to do.
OK. Just... Your feet.
-Like this?
-Yeah. This one.
-I go like this.
-[yelps]
-And we will turn around.
-That's so cool.
Bravo.
Why are you here?
What do you mean?
Always around
like a fucking mosquito.
-[Matas] Hey. It's OK.
-No, it's not.
[both grunting]
-Ma-- Ahh!
-Hey! Hey, hey, hey, hey!
-[screaming]
-Stop! Stop! Stop, stop! Hey!
-[panting]
-Are you OK?
What's wrong with you?
-What are you doing?
-What do you mean?
What the fuck are you doing?
What the fuck
are you doing with my sister?
My family is not an opportunity
for you to get laid.
If you break her heart,
I'll fucking kill you.
You coming?
-[Roma speaking Spanish]
-All right. OK. OK, sorry.
-[speaking Spanish]
-[Didde] Yes.
[both speaking Spanish]
Oh, OK, one. Sorry.
[laughter]
Right. In you go.
Oh, um...
Kathrine.
The way she...
The way she looks at Matas.
[speaking Spanish]
[laughs]
I think she's got
a huge crush... a big crush.
Oh, how do you say? Um...
[smacks lips]
She... She likes him.
I think she likes him.
[speaking Spanish]
[Didde] The boys... They've...
The boys.
They've, uh...
They've got
a very strong friendship.
Haven't they? Very strong.
-Yeah.
-[speaking Spanish]
Do you think it's dangerous?
No.
-No.
-Yeah.
[laughter]
Now...
What are we doing here?
[somber music]
[Didde] So lovely to see you.
Will you come again next year?
[Kathrine] Hey, hey, hey.
What?
I think I'm falling
in love with you.
-What?
-I love you.
[Matas] I-I love you too.
[indistinct chatter]
-Yeah.
-So lovely for you too come.
We will definitely go
to Argentina.
It was good to have you. Yes.
-Well, young man.
-[speaking Spanish]
Good to have you.
Thank you for coming.
[Roma speaking Spanish]
Yes, yes. I don't know
what I'm saying yes to.
-Now, listen, what about...
-Yeah.
[Didde] We'll go to Argentina
next Christmas.
[Gunner] Why not?
[laughter, indistinct chatter]
I... I'll miss you, my friend.
Wait for me.
Have a great winter, Kathrine.
-[speaking Spanish]
-Bye-bye.
-[Roma speaking Spanish]
-Bye-bye. Safe journey.
[Roma speaking Spanish]
[engine turning over]
[announcer speaking Italian
over radio]
[Roma speaking Spanish]
[dramatic music]
[speaking Spanish]
[Matas sobbing]
[speaking Spanish]
[sobbing]
[somber music]
[speaking Spanish]
[whirring]
[dramatic music]
[knock at door]
[speaking Spanish]
[sighs]
-[indistinct]
-No, say it the way I wrote it.
"I would be consumed
in that overwhelming existence,
which we are just
able to endure,
as I request your presence
at my dungeon tonight."
-Come on!
-[Julka] Oh, come on!
[all] Tango, tango!
Tango, tango, tango!
[haunting choral music]
[Paolo] Hey, Alexander.
[Lola] Really?
[Paolo] Some last words
for the camera?
-[Lola] Come on.
-[Paolo] For Matas?
Something for another time?
[dramatic music]
[clacking]
[whirring]
[Paolo] Some last words
for the camera?
[Lola] Come on.
[Paolo] For Matas?
Something for another time?
-[beeps]
-[Kathrine] Hey, Matas.
Kathrine again.
You must be so busy.
I was thinking
that even if you can't make it
to the wedding,
I'm gonna put your name
on the guest list regardless,
in case you happen
to fly to Italy.
It would mean the world
to have you there.
Alexander wants to see you too.
[music intensifying]
[man snoring]
[snoring continues]
[bright music]
Matas!
What?
-Oh!
-[laughter]
-Yeah. This one? Oops.
-Oh!
-How are you? Good to see you.
-Hi!
You're so pregnant,
I can't believe it.
I know.
It's so good to see you.
Come on.
-How are you?
-Good.
I read online you're making
a movie about Duino.
I can't believe
you're picking me up.
I could have taken a taxi.
Picking you up is nothing.
You are amazing.
I'm so excited you're here.
[Matas] I'm really sorry
about your parents.
Thank you.
They really loved you, you know?
It was just one Christmas,
but they saw you like a son.
OK, Mr. Filmmaker. [laughs]
I'm gonna take you
to your hotel.
I'm sure you'll love it.
[gentle piano music]
[indistinct chatter]
What a surprise!
Somebody loves me
I wonder who
But it must be odd!
Talking about your life on film?
Yeah, it's a little odd.
[Alexander]
And how about real life?
Well, I moved to London
in the 2000s.
To study dance.
-Wow.
-Yeah.
Yeah, but...
with scoliosis and flat feet...
kind of difficult
to be Fred Astaire.
[laughter]
Fell in and out of love
with anyone
who paid me any attention.
Puttana.
Yeah, pretty much.
[laughs]
Then I went...
I moved back to Buenos Aires.
A little lost, actually.
Yeah, I know the feeling.
[singer] Somebody loves me
I wonder who
How about you?
Me?
Well, I...
I graduated.
I... got married.
Got divorced.
And then I started working
with the royal family's
business affairs. And...
Yeah, that's pretty much it.
I mean, riveting stuff.
That's pretty much it?
Yeah, yeah.
There's not much more to tell.
May I dance with my brother?
Of course, of course. Yes.
My honor. My honor.
Maybe it's you
[applause]
[tender music]
[Alexander] And then, he goes,
"Whenever a society
is stricken ill,
one must rid of the past."
He sounds like an asshole.
My ex-wife used to call me that.
Ex-wife?
Yeah.
So... How about her?
Well, for starters,
our sex life at 35
was less passionate
than my parents' at 60.
And you know that because...
Because we got home one night
to my parents' place
after some dull party.
It was the middle of the night,
and suddenly we heard
this furious barking.
[barks sharply]
I got really frightened
and I ran upstairs.
And it was coming
from my parents' bedroom.
The thing is...
they never owned a dog.
[laughs]
To Didde and Gunner.
-[glasses clink]
-[Alexander] Mm.
It's strange...
how things can disintegrate
so quickly.
I've had it for years now,
this dream.
And...
in it, I-I see myself from above
like I'm watching someone else.
Like a mouse trapped in a maze.
And I'm... I'm frantically
digging through this dumpster
where I know I've hidden
the body of someone I...
...killed.
And I'm...
checking...
to see if it's still there.
And when I...
F... When I finally find it,
I feel this...
...massive relief.
[somber music]
I-I... I could never kill any...
Anyone.
But...
No matter what,
that overwhelming...
guilt...
never leaves me.
Maybe you should get rid
of the dead body.
[upbeat piano music playing]
Ooh, ooh, ooh!
The African dance!
[vocalizing]
You remember it.
Come on, come on, come on!
Come on, come on! Do it!
Come, come, come,
come, come, come.
[both grunt]
[laughter]
All right.
[breathes heavily]
[groaning]
[dramatic music]
Thank you.
Where's the husband?
Totally passed out
in the master bedroom.
You're gonna be a great mom.
[Kathrine chuckles]
-Don't go.
-Hmm.
I do love it here.
Stay.
I can't.
[Alexander]
She's married already.
And I doubt that kid is yours.
Why are you always around?
Don't make it
another 24 years, OK?
Well...
write sometime, OK?
I have.
Many times.
You think you know yourself
when you are a kid.
But you don't know anything.
Because you can't predict that.
What?
That thing. That...
feeling that stops you
in your tracks.
That doesn't let you breathe.
Because when it's happening,
you don't know that you'll
never feel it again for anyone.
And with time,
you really wish...
you would.
Memory is sneaky.
It's inaccurate.
And then, one day,
you see old images
of that boy you were, that...
scared,
stupid and brave
little boy you were.
And you realize
you've added things to the past.
And now, here it is, for real.
That face.
This gate, the staircase,
this house.
The record of reality,
exactly as it was.
As it is.
Right now.
This is me.
I'll miss you, old friend.
I'll miss you too.
[both speaking Italian]
[romantic music]
[singer singing in Italian]
[dramatic music]
[singer singing in Spanish]