Lost Soul (Anima Persa)

- Who's living here? - A couple.

- I can't see anybody. - They don't go out.

- Your first time in Venice? - No no.

I spent a summer here, as a child.

- It's a wonderful city. - Venice is Venice.

- Annetta. - Yes, ma'am.

Take care of Mr Tino's suitcase.

- Your suitcase. - But it's light.

No, give it to me.

- Nice trip? - Yes. Thanks.

- You must be tired. - No.

How you've changed. You're a fine young man now.

- How are your parents? - They send their best.

This is your room. Want to wash your hands?

- Trains are quite dirty. - Give me your coat, sir.

- I'm in the dining room. - All right.

Damn window! It never stays closed.

Latin, no. Maths, impossible. Dad's plans don't interest me.

Even mom said.

"Try painting. You're gifted."

Are you gifted?

Well, as a child I was praised for my drawings of Tarzan.

- No. - I'll have some more.

What an appetite...

- May I finish it? - Yes. Don't be so formal.

Oh, my head!

Always at this time.

Join me in the other room when you're ready.

Tino, come here.

I'll show you around.

This is Uncle's study.

He always eats out.

He meets important guests, some from abroad.

- What is he? - Engineer with the Gas Company.

A very important position.

I won't recognise him after so long.

- Is that him? - No. His father, Mr Stolz.

A peculiar man.

When the Italians took Venice he moved to Vienna.

"I want breathe the air of the Empire..." he said.

- So you met there. - No. We met in Venice.

He sleeps there.

Let's see the abandoned parts of the house.

The house has been in my family for centuries.

We've only restored a small part of it.

Everything's so costly today.

We'll wait for better times.

This was the theatre.

Look at the decay.

How terrible.

As a child I'd sing... and dance here.

Come.

Watch your steps.

- Where does this lead? - Into a locked room.

Don't ever go up there. The staircase is rotten.

Understood, Tino?

Come on. Let's go.

This is my room.

He comes home late.

I'm a light sleeper. It's my nerves.

Go to bed. You must be tired.

Good night and thank you.

I thank you for bringing your youth into this home.

Ciao.

- Can you find your way? - Yes, Auntie.

- I can't find my room. - It's right in front of you.

Thank you. Good night.

Good morning, son.

- It's late, almost 7:00. - Good morning Uncle.

Just say your morning prayer if you want.

I'll look the other way.

Know how long you slept? Nine hours.

Plato said...

"There's a beast in all of us which comes out in our sleep."

So rule 1 is: Sleep little. How long do I sleep? 3 hours a night.

Here's what you need to wash yourself.

A touch old-fashioned, I love the simple things.

Cold water and exercise are good for you.

I do it every morning. Naked by the window.

Do likewise.

We have 35 minutes to get to Professor Sattin's school.

He's a poor painter. And a hopeless teacher.

But it could help. The boat is ready. And breakfast too.

You may start breakfast. I'll come immediately.

Hurry up.

What you see are the windows of the prison.

Doge Faliero and the Fornaretto of Venice...

were imprisoned and then executed there.

That's Cimetta's house... the first real murder after the war.

Her lover cut her up and threw the pieces into the canals.

A little dirty, your Venice.

Yes. A humorist said:

"Venice is an old lady with a bad breath."

A ghost that speaks at night lives in that palace.

It says strange words in an unknown language.

Some fauna!

This is a provincial relative. I wonder if he's talented.

We'll see soon.

Actually, who needs talent today? Goodbye.

Look at them. The remnants of a fleeing army.

Stateless vagabonds.

All rebellious Absaloms, victims of their hair.

- Are you crazy? - I was joking.

But they are lost.

Spoiled by too much attention and understanding.

- Well, go ahead. - Bye Uncle.

Since some of you are new here...

The others are old pupils.

Here are a few words for the new ones.

The others are free to listen.

- This will be my third time. - There will be many more times.

Drawing makes a good painting, I tell you, not the colour.

If you think colour can hide a bad drawing,

you're grossly mistaken.

Because the drawing underneath always shows...

like the tits under a beautiful girl's blouse.

Has Lucia arrived? Lucia!

I'm here. I missed my ferry. I came by motorised gondola.

Is that why you're late?

The gondola ran out of petrol.

You're really gifted in telling myths.

This elegant line from the shoulders to the hip...

Try to draw it with just one stroke.

With just one stroke.

And here, don't overdo the shadows.

Your bum's getting rounder.

Is this your first time in a nude class?

No. I've been many times.

This is my first time.

If you're so experienced, tell me,

are these nude models actually... little whores?

What are you saying? Modelling is serious work.

Some hot coffee for these nice kids.

Lucia, can you help me?

Coffee's here. Just what I needed.

Thanks.

- Sugar? - Two... Three...

- Two or three? - Three.

- Are you new here? - Yes. It's my first day.

- One or two? - Two.

One.

- Are you reading word puzzles? - Yes.

Interesting. Very good.

I don't work them out. But they still fascinate me.

It's the link between such diverse things...

A king, a farm and two bulls...

a fisherman casting his net...

a tall girl next to a grave...

and all those mysterious letters here and there...

A, Q, M, R...

Poetry...

Surrealism...

At times I think I'd love to live inside a word puzzle.

Isn't it so? Don't we all live in a word puzzle?

Dear, you've been inside all day.

Have a stroll with Annetta before turning in.

- I can go with you if you like. - No...

I want to show you my library.

You're right. A stroll will do me good.

See? The idea of going out makes her feel better already.

- Have you noticed? - What?

That every woman has a special smell.

Men and women, we all have our own individual smell.

True. But women smell of vegetables.

Strindberg...

Strindberg said, women smell celery.

I'd go further.

Some smell of celery, others, of rosemary...

radish, artichoke, cabbage...

Because, among all living creatures,

women are closest to the vegetable species.

- Don't you think? - No. Go on.

I really believe that the transition between animal and vegetable...

is represented by the woman.

Women are the link that joins the two.

So long both of you, I'm going on my health stroll.

Can you smell it? A delicate fragrance of celery.

- Pardon? - Nothing, dear.

Are you going out like that?

I'm covered. It's not cold.

I think I noticed a light fog outside.

It denotes dampness. I don't know if you should...

I'd say no. You coughed a lot last night.

- Maybe a little. - No, my dear. A lot.

You'd be asking for trouble.

You're right.

You'd better stay at home.

I'll read something for you.

Listen. Do you know what's in here, Tino?

All Hölderlin's poems.

Here's a beautiful one from his schizophrenic period.

When he thought he was Scardanelli, the cobbler.

I have enjoyed the pleasures of life.

The joy of youth has long gone.

April, May and June are past. And...

Now I'm nothing.

Life has lost its appeal.

It sounds nicer in German.

Doesn't it sound nicer in German, dear?

- What are you doing? - Nothing!