Sorelle Mai

"Our city has 200,000 inhabitants..."

"none of whom stands out from the others, they are all equal."

"In 200 years, not one saint, scientist, or artist..."

"nobody who ever shined..."

"aroused envy, or inspired others to emulate him."

"They do nothing but eat, drink and sleep..."

"...and finally kick the bucket..."

"...just to give birth to other kids, who, in turn, eat, drink and sleep."

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So?

What are you doing?

Shall we go home? Are you hungry?

Shall we go to your aunties' house and see if you get hungry?

- Come here. - The little lion? - Here's the little lion!

The little lion.

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Elena, what do you want?

Do you want some rice? How do you want it? With oil?

Give her some rice with oil.

What was your mother like? Was she affectionate?

- Were you close? - She wasn't very affectionate

on the outside, although she adored us.

She was worried about hygiene.

She feared that mouth-to-mouth contact could contaminate the kids.

- Fear of diseases. - Yes, right.

In fact, on our bibs it was embroidered "don't kiss me".

Don't kiss me.

You have rice in your mouth.

Did you travel? Languages, the world outside Bobbio?

Have you seen Europe? Did your mother know languages?

When Mum was young she studied French and read a lot.

She played the piano, she painted. She also read a lot.

She had a tendency to introversion.

- Have you studied foreign languages? - A bit of French, German.

German is an almost military language.

German.

I was somewhat influenced.

My father said "Gertrud! A German name."

"Gertrud! Gertrud!"

When I was a little girl

they asked me if I was from Piacenza.

Since I looked like a German, they thought I came from Trentino.

- Did you study German at school? - No, I took a course.

I remember our first German teacher.

I remember she scolded me,

telling me that I was a snail.

- A snail? - A general reproach.

- A German snail. - I have a little bit of German spirit.

- She has a bit of German spirit. - In fact, I have no sense of humour.

She has a bit of German spirit. A bit too German!

I don't have a sense of humour.

But sometimes, to pluck up courage when I go out...

"Poor soldier, how you worry!"

"Poor soldier, how you worry!"

Or: "You know, Mariuccia," I used to say to pluck up courage...

"The great mission of a soldier of the Führer..."

"...was to die with the rank of colonel."

Wow! The Führer's soldier had ambitious goals.

Orders are orders.

I do some volunteering for Caritas.

"I can't give you any more because orders are orders."

I always say that, joking about myself.

This is my speciality.

I just wanted to ask, purely out of curiosity,

not to be nosy,

...but what about her mother?

She will come back, she can't be irresponsible.

Mothers are everything for their children.

Yes, but...

seeing this beautiful thing

her uncle is doing

reminded me a little bit of our mothers,

our grannies.

Seeing these mothers suffering, working,

and never complaining.

Always joyful, always ready for...

They made sure our plates were full.

And if there was anything left over, they ate it in secret.

Every time has its good and bad side.

- There were other problems then... - But mothers were mothers.

They weren't, but...

I don't want to say more, but it's not like today.

It's completely different.

Go to sleep, Elena. It's time to close your eyes.

No more jokes or ambushes.

I go out, and you call me back...

We've done it ten times tonight, now sleep.

Ok?

If you need me, I'm there.

Just sleep, ok?

It's not like...

Very good, very good.

So?

What was their mother like?

A saint! A real saint.

I can say... I'm quite touched.

She was a real saint

from morning to night and night to morning.

Six, seven children to look after and the house.

- Look at us now. - It's all gone.

- You grew up. - Let's go for a walk.

Let's go.

Thank you.

- Thanks for your company. - You're welcome.

I've got my phone, Elena's asleep, if anything comes up...

- Call me if there's any problem. - If she cries, we'll look in.

Thanks again. Bye.

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Sara?

Sara, it's me, yes. Are you coming back?

You need to come back at once, Sara.

Come back now. For a month you've been saying tomorrow.

I don't care if you're 500km away.

No, she's not crying, that's not the point, it doesn't matter.

Come back, because I need to leave!

Aren't you ashamed?

Your daughter is here, where are you?

All month you've been saying you'll come back tomorrow!

I have to leave. Sara, I hate you!

Where are you going?

What are they doing?

It's 7 a.m.

They didn't even say goodbye.

That's odd.

- Hello. - Hello.

- How are you? - I'm ok.

- Good? - Yes. - This is Irene.

- Hello. - Hello.

Let's go.

- Mum? - She left.

But she's well too.

Hello, Auntie.

- Hi, Giorgio. What a nice surprise! - This is Irene.

- Nice to meet you. - Nice to meet you.

What a pretty lady! You have good taste in girlfriends.

- When did you arrive? - Just now.

We've just arrived.

- How are you? - Well. Are you staying?

- Yes, we'll stay a few days. - I'm glad.

We can spend a little time together.

- It's hot. - It's summer.

The sun has broken through!

I've come in the car, I can give you a lift back.

- Let's recite some prayers first. - Ok, fine.

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, let perpetual light shine upon them.

Rest in peace. Amen.

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, let perpetual light shine upon them.

Rest in peace. Amen.

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, let perpetual light shine upon them.

Rest in peace. Amen.

Are we done? Shall we go?

- Can we go? - Yes.

- Let's go this way - What about the cat?

The cat stays here, Auntie. Let's go!

The cat stays here. Yes, put it on after...

Come on, let's go!

It's the cemetery's cat, it's fine here.

This cemetery has a view...

- Here, they rest in peace! - Yes, it's a wonderful landscape.

- That's Letizia. - Letizia.

- Who's she? - It's a shame Sara isn't here.

It would be nice to all be together.

The sense of family is a nice thing.

Did you know that Irene and I are getting married?

We want to open a jewelry shop.

We need to get a bank loan but we can't without a guarantee.

That's why I'm here.

Not just for that, also so we can be together,

But I'm here to ask for your help. The loan rates are very good.

You won't have to spend any money, just sign the paperwork.

- Obviously, I'll pay back the loan. - Don't worry, Giorgio.

You'll have our signature.

But because we don't understand anything about money,

we'll rely on Gianni Schicchi, our administrator.

- We'll talk calmly, Gianni. - Yes.

However, if you're going to marry and it's definitely happening

we will give you the engagement ring which belonged to our mother.

Our mother intended it to go to your real girlfriend,

not a passing girlfriend. Sara got the necklace.

Did she already take it, Sara? But she's no longer married.

- It's her right not to marry. - Of course.

However, she's a settled person, she will get married.

It's every young girl's dream.

Whether she's bourgeois or noble,

- a farmer or a princess. - Why didn't you get married?

- There were difficult circumstances. - What circumstances?

If you are living in a problematic family...

and you can never socialise, it's clear that you cannot marry.

Embroidery is done stitch by stitch.

A design is made up of many stitches.

- Where is Sara, Auntie? - I think she's in Milan.

Are we sure? She hasn't pawned the necklace?

No, she's a good girl. Gianni can confirm it.

- He supervises her? - Yes. - Then we're all good!

Sara is a very settled person, the accounts are separate.

She has her own bank account.

Where are you getting married? In Santa Maria delle Grazie?