Indian Summer (La prima notte di quiete)

Excuse me!

What's this little city like?

I don't know. I just arrived today too.

I'm sorry.

We were expecting you Monday.

- Did you have a problem? - No.

May I ask you, why you chose Rimini?

Because I had never been here.

You think that's a sufficient reason?

Yes.

So, Dominici.

Dominici... Dominici?

- The son of the hero of El Alamein? - Excuse me?

I was wondering if you were related

to the famous colonel, Dominici, gold medal of the Airborne.

No, I've nothing to do with him.

"Dominici, born in Vienna."

"37 years old. Graduated with top grades at Cattolica of Milan."

"Teacher of History of Art."

"Italian School of Mogadishu from 1959 to 1960."

"Agrigento in 1963..."

What did you do during the 3 years that you didn't teach?

- I sold books on installments. - Then you are an expert.

"Travelling School in Sardinia and another leave of absence."

Your character profile doesn't say much.

It is normal, without infamy and without praise.

It doesn't seem like you have ...

Let's put it this way... a teaching vocation.

Probably.

Today the high school is on strike.

This is another face of freedom.

Come. I'll show you the school.

Please.

This is your class.

I won't say more. I want you to form a personal opinion.

But in my school there is no room for protesting,

nor for the ideas of President Mao.

Chose the systems you prefer, but maintain discipline.

19...

19, 19.

23.

5, 5...

35.

51.

I must give you 20,000 Liras.

- Pay. - You give Leo credit, but not to me.

Leo doesn't have money.

20,000.

Guys, what is it? Are you afraid?

- Only 20,000. Leo! - I don't feel like it. I've no money.

- Doctor. - No.

For one evening that I win...

- Come on, Marcello. 20,000. - I'm out of luck today.

- I won't give you 20,000 Liras. - It's still 6 p.m. Where will we go?

To the marina?

- Come on, guys. Pot 20,000. - Pot.

I don't play with who I don't know.

Don't listen to him. He's a little spoiled hillbilly.

Montanari.

- Mr. Marlvestiti. - My pleasure.

- Nello Bazzoni. - How are you?

- He is Marcello. - Hello.

Hide that money. The marshal and I are friends,

but the owner of this place doesn't allow money on the table.

- Giorgio Mosca. - We call him Spider.

- 20,000? - More, if you want.

Let's start with 20. It's my turn.

- What did you say your name is? - Dominici.

- What are you doing here? - I teach here, at the high school.

Out.

You're good, Professor.

- Pot of 40? - Pot. What else can you play?

Everything.

How is it possible that you never find him at home?

Did you tell him I've been calling for 5 or 6 days?

Please ask him to call at any time in the morning.

Thank you. Yes, Dominici.

Are you sleeping?

Do you have matches?

Don't think about it. It'll go away.

I'm telling you from experience. It seems unbearable but it will go away.

- Then why do we live? - We survive.

- Are you upset with me? - Not at all.

- These things happen. - Have they happened to you?

Not seriously. Not because of me,

but because of the women that I met.

Did you love me very much?

Monica, it seems like we're watching over a dead person.

- Do you have regrets? - Too much luxury.

I couldn't afford it.

- Would you like a child? - God, no! For what reason?

Sleep.

What bothers me the most about you is your kindness.

It could kill an ox.

It's not kindness.

"Secondly, let's ask for the right to debate

about our problems."

"Thirdly, we ask that, as in many high schools..."

My name is Dominici, and I'm the new professor.

Good morning. May we finish preparing todays' agenda?

- Certainly. - Thank you.

"Thirdly, We ask that, as in many

high schools of Rome, Milan, Turin, Genoa and Florence,

students have a class council." That's all.

All the other classes must approve this.

Tell Roberto to type it bigger and do the layout.

Will you sign it, too?

- What is your name? - Fabrizio Romani.

You have an amazing average. 9, 8, 7, 8, 9... How old are you?

- 19 in June. - What does your father do?

He's a veterinarian. He works for Town Hall.

- A match? - Of course.

It's your business, not mine.

- Many professors will sign it. - It's their business.

I am here to explain why one of Petrarca's verses is lovely,

and I think I can do it well. All the rest bores me.

Red or black, you are all the same. The black ones are more stupid.

I'll stay with you 3 or 4 months, until Professor Mariano returns.

I haven't taught in a while and I know many things have changed.

But in teaching, I've my point of view. Not to impose it on anyone.

If someone wants to study, I am here.

The others can do what they want. Come, not come, read, write,

play battleship. As long as they don't disturb.

- Professor, may we smoke? - Of course.

Today we have 3 hours in a row. What did Professor Mariano do?

- A class essay. - Then I'll give you the topic.

In so little time, I won't be able to know all of you,

so it's a good idea to introduce yourselves.

Write about your private life, about your family,

about pain, about joy, about the mistakes you made.

You can even avoid signing. It'll take more time to understand.

If you don't write with absolute sincerity, it's wasted energy.

For those who want to remain with tradition, another topic.

The antithesis of purity and sin in Manzoni's world.

Start writing,

and don't make noise while I am out.

Figaro Littéraire and Newsweek.

600.

Thank you.

- Professor Dominici. - Excuse me?

- Why aren't you in the classroom? - I came down to get the papers.

- The kids are doing an essay. - You leave without checking on them?

What could happen?

You'll see with your own eyes. Your class is the most boisterous.

Romani, go to your place.

- Who allowed you to smoke? - I did.

Put out those cigarettes right now.

- It is allowed in many schools. - Not in this one.

We're off to a bad start. Come to see me at the end of the lesson.

- May we smoke, Professor? - Of course.

What is it? You don't have cigarettes?

Here.

Did you already turn it in?

Then why don't you write?

I've already finished.

What are you reading?

- Does it interest you? - So-so.

- Was it suggested to you? No, I won it at Bingo.

- What is Bingo? - A lottery.

- Know anything else about Lawrence? - "Lady Chatterley's Lover".

- Who is being funny? - Me, Professor.

What other books of Lawrence do you know?

He said it. "Lady Chatterley's Lover".

"Abati Vanina". Vanina... There's a novel with that name.

I know. "Vanina Vanini". A film was taken from it too.

- Did you see it? - No.

Strange. You did the essay on Manzoni.

- There was a choice, right? - Of course.

Anyone else chose the topic on Manzoni?

You're the only one.

- Is it a topic that interests you? - Better than the other one.

We always have something to say about ourselves.

I preferred this one.

Bye.

- Abati. - Yes?

Come.

Did Professor Mariano always do oral tests from his desk?

- Almost all teachers do. - Does it embarrass you here?

No, it's the same.

- How old are you? - 19, almost 20.

You have many absences. Are some deliberate?

Some.

Your folks don't care if your come regularly to school?

I only have my mother. It makes no difference to her.

- You have brothers? Sisters? - A sister who is married.

- She doesn't live with us. - And you're sorry about that.

Yes.

What will you study when you go to university?

Nothing. I don't even know if I want to finish the year.

It would be a shame. You've only a few months left.

- What will you do after? - Go abroad.

- To do what? - Anything.

You didn't start the quarter off badly. You like Italian?

Enough.

"Oh, sleep, oh the sweet, humid,

shady night, placid son."

"Oh, of sickly humans comfort

sweet oblivion of evils so serious that makes life bitter and boring."

Don't tell me who wrote this, but if you like it.

Yes.