Stille Liebe

This is how I met Antonia

twenty years ago.

It was a sign.

I had come to help on the farm.

We had been told

that this family had difficulties.

I was shocked that she

still did not go to school.

Hair.

In the home they tried

to make her talk,

but she refused to.

I looked for a teacher

to teach her sign language.

We taught her to read and write.

She woke up.

Frog.

Monkey.

Lion.

Cow.

Pig.

Goat.

Here we are not afraid of silence.

Maybe this attracted her, or then it was

the protection that this place provides.

So it seemed quite natural to everybody

that she came to us and wanted to

join our religious order

once she was a little over twenty.

I was of course pleased to be able

to accompany her in her life.

In the morning I always went to her room

first in case she did not hear

the waking bells, but she was

always awake already.

I sometimes watched her secretly.

She didn't notice

or pretended she didn't.

I may even have been a bit

in love with her,

but I suppose we all were

in our little community...

Shall I put that down, too?

Yes.

Antonia had adapted herself well

to our little community.

She always did

what was asked of her.

Later on,

as the tradition of our order

prescribes,

she started to help with

charitable work outside the convent...

SECRET LOVE

Is there any coffee?

Hey, Sister Antonia!

I'm sorry!

I'm telling you for the last time:

This is no hotel.

All hotels full.

He doesn't want to understand.

OK. Just ask. One day maybe?

Yes, yes, maybe, maybe.

We're closing now until 4 p. m.

Can you do some shopping?

Do you think she noticed something?

I don't think so.

Wasn't she

at the hotel this morning?

I think they all

look the same.

Let's go back.

Well, what was it like?

How is Fritz?

Will you come with me?

What is this?

Deaf actors.

They make music with gestures.

Antonia ordered the video cassette.

I don't know if it's right

to let Antonia work there.

She's young and healthy.

I did the same thing.

Yes, but people talk

and Antonia...

She knows how to attract attention.

Antonia says it's like

when we listen to music.

What? Stir?

I can cook too!

Looking for something?

Two twenty.

Two twenty.

Thank you.

Why are you following me?

Aren't you allowed or don't you want to?

Me? What?

Don't you want to talk to me?

You speak sign language like me.

You are the first deaf person

I've seen here.

So what?

You're waiting... I'm waiting.

I'm waiting for the train.

We understand each other.

Understand each other?

I meant to say that we

can communicate.

I don't know it.

What do you do?

I'm a nun.

I know that. I mean at the hotel.

I work there. We help the needy.

The "needy"?

Poor people

who have neither money nor a home.

Have you ever been to a circus?

When I was little.

I worked in a circus.

I must go. Goodbye.

Didn't you buy the newspaper?

Forgot.

Why?

We have to work harder.

Fritz phoned me.

Is it so difficult?

He's stubborn.

You should be

more patient with other people.

Patience.

A nice gesture.

All gestures are nice.

I shall talk to Fritz.

Hey, you two!

Stop! Wait!

Egli!

Don't strain yourself!

Fritz didn't give you a room, did he?

I'm telling you,

you went about it the wrong way.

Come to me next time, I know Fritz.

My friend, sorry, I not understand. OK?

At the hotel,

a few days ago. - Russians?

No! Why Russians?

Money?

No, no.

What do you say about that?

Antonia likes to show

what she can do.

She doesn't eat with us.

That makes no difference.

I don't trust anybody to cook something

and then not eat it.

A good cook

always tastes what she cooks.

You have to get used to it.

Now a young nun is working here.

One could say,

what more do you want?

Yes... but it's still stupid.

It's a problem for you

that she doesn't talk,

that you can't talk to her.

That's it! He doesn't like it.

This gesticulating

gets me confused!

With Sister Maya,

I could have a chat.

Sister Maya is 70.

It's too strenuous for her.

You understand, don't you?

You never want to read my slate.

I need one, too.

It isn't that bad.

If he refuses to let me cook,

I won't go there anymore.

I really won't go there anymore.

It isn't as easy as that, my child.

You know that our order wants to help,

the world needs us.

And we need the compensation

that we get for your work.

Fritz is strange.

Fritz is a man.

They're different.

But he's actually a good person,

you'll see.

And your brother?

Not brother - half brother.

Is it okay?

Okay, okay. He has his room.

So you can open the door

yourself in the morning.

Strittmatter, it's clean enough.

Hey, that's enough!

See you later. In the evening.

ANTONIA'S MENU

It's good today.

Enjoy your meal.