Marina

SOUTHERN ITALY 1948

Want some Corinne?

Always make sure Mum has enough charcoal.

But don't give her too much.

Be sparing with ii, it has to last all winter.

Why? What's happening?

You're head of the household now. I'm leaving for a while.

But the war is over.

They're looking for people to work down the coal mines.

In Belgium.

In Belgium?

The countries in the north are very rich.

The work is hard but it pays well.

And the forge? Aren't you going to work with Grandpa any more?

I want to have my own forge.

I'll be able to send money home to Mum and when I come back I'll be rich.

I'll buy a lovely forge that I'll pass on to you.

When will you come back from Belgium? - In three years.

Three years isn't long. It'll go really quickly.

There's nothing nicer than clean underpants.

Our men will have to wash them themselves in Belgium.

Hey. Does Salvatore's pistol fit in there?

Only when it isn't loaded.

Salvatore. Dance with me.

I can't wait for mine to leave too.

I hope he chooses a country that's far away. Argentina, Brazil...

You can do what you like while you wait.

50,000 Italians for 3 tonnes of coal.

Just like that, for free? - Half price.

Where did this strange idea come from, Toto?

Some Minister for Coal, a Belgian.

50,000 Italians... Those poor Belgian women.

You are going to behave yourself, Toto, aren't you? Promise me.

You won't look at other women? - I promise.

You're leaving me by myself for three years.

Don't forget St Francis of Paula, Dad.

Don't worry about your wife and children, brother.

I'll take care of them. Eh, Ida?

As long as you don't take too much care of her.

Wanda, sweetie. What will I do without you?

Keep an eye on Mum.

And your uncle.

Will you bring me back a present, Dad?

An accordion. Like yours.

I'll send Mum some money. For an accordion too.

But only if you do your best at school.

Do you need any more charcoal, Mum?

What are you doing, Rocco? Your music lesson!

Damn!

Late again, Granada. - Sorry, sir.

I was helping my mum to... - Be quiet.

Music is all about discipline.

Wait till my dad gets back. You'll regret that!

How much longer, Mum?

2 years...

11 months...

and 9 days.

My dad's working in the richest country in the world.

In three years' time he's going to buy me a forge.

Mine's a gangster.

Damn, I need a pee. - Me too.

All this... is the very best from our rich soil.

Villa Don Amado red wine. - Long live Don Amado!

Vincent!

Mum! Mum!

What's the matter, Mum?

We're going to Belgium.

Your passports, please.

Come on, Wanda.

I'm sorry.

But your place is here with me.

Go in.

Good morning, headmaster. - Yeah, yeah.

A new pupil is joining us today, boys. This is Rocco, from Italy.

He's all yours now.

Right, let's carry on.

The price of rice...

continues to increase.

Hey! Italian!

Hi, my name's Dino. - Mine's Rocco.

I'm from Calabash. - Look.

Jacky comes here every Friday. He's not right in the head.

Is he retarded? - No, he's Belgian.

His father is an engineer.

Hey, Jacky!

Haven't you got something for me?

No, no, the other one. - I'm keeping that one. it's for my mum.

Tell her it was sold out. She can buy her bra next week.

OK?

OK, thank you. Here you are.

Where did you learn to speak the language so well?

Actually... give me the comic too.

Come on.

Here, a comic strip. To learn the language.

The language here isn't easy.

But you will need to learn it in order to get by.

They are proud of it.

Can you put the last crate in there for me?

Come on.

Go on, put it in the back. Put it in there.

Hey, you, get lost! Go on!

Don't forget your schoolbag.

The grocer's daughter. You can forget about her, she's not for people like us.

One more year and I'm off out to work.

Where? - Down the mine, of course.

I'm going back to my country.

You're not! Think about it.

Who worked down the mines during the war?

The Russian prisoners. And after the war? The Krauts.

And who is living in the huts now? Us.

All Italian miners' children will have to work down the mines.

It's in my dad's contract.

Come on. - I want to earn my own money.

Have a Vespa, a radio, a beautiful Italian girl

and to fuck, a beautiful blonde Flemish girl like those in that catalogue.

This is where I live. Bye. - Bye.

What's that?

Where did you get it? - Someone gave it to me.

Listen carefully, Rocco. Don't take me for an idiot.

I don't want a thief in my house. Do you hear me?

Let's eat.

Do I need to do any shopping after school tomorrow, Mum?

No, we don't need anything.

Not even a piece of Corinne? - They don't have that here.

Is it true I also have to become a miner, Dad?

Dad?

You will go down a mine over my dead body.

Do you hear me? So no.

But it's in your contract. - You're going to be a blacksmith.

I want to go home. - Me too.

Your dad has to work here two more years.

Then we're going home. Aren't we, Dad?

Eat.

Rocco.

You don't have to go to school. But only for today.

How come? - You have to do something for me.

Stay here and tell me if Mum has any visitors.

I may go and buy some strawberries from the farmer.

Rocco?

I make go...

I make go... - I make macaroni.

Ward!

Here, here. - Yeah.

Get the ball. - Italian, the ball.

Hey, Italian.

Ward.

Here. Yes, here. Here.

Is that all?

We will all go home one day.

What do you want me to do? I promised him.

For me? - Yes, for me.

Pay first.

Graze. How you say graze?

Idiot. - Idiot.

What's your name? - Me... my name's Rocco.

You name?

Thank you, goodbye.

Are you going to buy that?

Are you going to buy that?

Leave it alone.

He didn't...? - No, Dad.

Hey, little Italian!

Want to come and play tennis? - OK, Rena at, I'm coming.

Hey, gypsy, get lost. - I not gypsy, I Italian.

You're nothing, you are.

Come here, arsenal, I'm going to teach you a lesson.

Hey you, you've got no business here. Little Italian lowlife!

Get lost! Go on, get out of here!

Scum. - You wait till I get you on your own!

Keep this shut, you!

Did he hurt you? - No, I'm alright.

You're a brave boy.

See that? I warned you.

Right then.

Come here.

Well? Did anyone visit Mum?

Good.

Dad? I want an accordion.

You want an accordion? An accordion costs a fortune.

We have to save up for a forge.

Where's yours? - I sold it.

So I could send money home.

But you promised me one.

Later. When we're back in Italy.

There are more important things than music now. Tell him, Ida.

You wanted to learn to play one too.

Your dad used to be asked to play at all the weddings.

With Uncle Vincent.

Uncle Vincent and I didn't have any money. We played to earn a living.

You don't need to do that. - What are you scared of, Toto?

Are you scared he'll turn out like Vincent?

I know what he's scared of.

Dad...

Buy me an accordion or I'll tell Mum you asked me to spy on her.

Why did you do that, Toto?

Hey, who says you can dig there?

I'm making a vegetable plot.

A garden for vegetables.

A garden? Hold on a minute, pal.

You can't just do that, we've got rules here.