The Desert Within (Desierto adentro)

THE DESERT WITHIN

FIRST

FAULT

On July 31 st, 1926...

...San Isidro held its last mass.

The evil government had the churches closed...

...and forced God to leave his own house.

Priests were ordered to go to the city.

The sky cries on our heads.

Against such an offense...

...we promise never to renounce you, Lord.

I'm sorry. I have to go.

We'll find a way of baptizing it...

...when the time comes.

This won't last forever.

Watch over yourselves.

1 st Article, "Any individual in charge of a church...

...who sounds the bells, will be fined MX$50."

2nd, "Any person who teaches their children to pray...

...will have the same fine. "

3rd, "Any person carrying religious icons, same fine. "

4th, "Houses adorned with religious icons, same fine. "

What's all that crap, Mother?

I volunteered to hide them...

...but it's only for a few days.

Do that when you're a man and in your own house.

You're a good Christian, son.

Let God defend God's stuff. I must care for my family.

Where are you taking them? Don't make me lose face.

They're not yours! Elias!

All the men are fighting in the mountains now.

What are you waiting for?

It's not moving.

Looks like it's not moving anymore.

And if it's asleep?

If it dies, without a blessing...

...its soul will never find peace.

Don't bring on a bigger disgrace.

Can't you see there's a war?

I'll make her feel better.

Pray for her.

Give me your blessing.

I hope you're not wrong.

Father!

Go, Elias, you'll get me in trouble.

Dolores fell.

She and the unborn child are sick.

- What can I do? - Come with me.

Are you crazy? They're killing priests.

I'm not asking, Father.

Get in.

Even the walls have ears.

Go ahead with the priest.

Take him away before things get worse.

If anyone finds out, we're screwed.

Thank you.

You should've brought a doctor.

Bless it, Father...

...so she can be in peace.

I bless you in the name of the Father, the Son...

...and the Holy Spirit. - Amen.

Hail Mary, full of grace.

You ask but give nothing.

Give me back the guns, Elias. Please.

I did my part. I want to leave now.

The horses are tired.

Sleep.

I'll come get you tomorrow morning.

Thank you.

What's going on back there?!

Wait, wait, hold on!

Come on! Move it!

Damn rain.

We'll be in San Isidro shortly.

Nobody backs down.

That priest is rising the people.

You scared me.

My mom sent this.

Aureliano, don't go.

I want a horse. Come with me to town.

Father!

Father!

Father Trinidad!

Mother, we have to go. The army is coming.

Go get your brothers.

Get up, woman, we're leaving.

Get dressed. Come on.

What?

They're here.

They've come to get Father Trinidad.

Carefully.

Hold on.

You brought the priest, they followed you.

Your son took him into town.

Hold on, son! I'll get you down!

Let him go!

Bring water and a blanket.

- Father. - Go, Elias.

Listen to me. I meant no harm.

It was a mistake.

We just wanted to bless the child's soul.

God will punish the petty man...

...who for saving his son brought on the death...

...of God's other children.

Don't say that, Father.

Did you see them out there?

You killed them.

"Eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth. "

With the death of your son, Aureliano...

...you've begun to pay.

If I'm guilty, please, absolve me.

Have mercy. I'm going to die, too.

May God forgive you because I can't.

Father...

Our Father, who art in heaven...

...hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come...

...thy will be done...

Ready!

Aim!

Fire!

Get up, bastards.

Come on!

Come on!

Move. Move it.

Mother!

And the others?

Aureliano?

There's your son.

She was good, so I helped her...

...but there's no forgiving you.

God is wise.

That's why he took her from you.

God bless you.

Go, Elias. You have no one in San Isidro.

You're not my son...

...nor anyone's family in this town.

The guns are in the field.

What for? There isn't anyone left to fight.

Go.

If you stay, they'll kill you.

Wait here.

Forgive me, God.

What do you want from me?

Why did you leave me here?

What's going on?

I want to do the right thing.

Please, God.

Help me.

Having escaped death, Elias called God...

...who enlightened him with a sign and said:

"You are alive to pay your faults.

Your children will pay the punishment. "

Lord, give us a chance to compensate our wrongs...

...and obtain your forgiveness.

We're leaving. Hop on, quickly.

Help your brothers.

What do we do?

It's a boy?

He'll be Aureliano, like his brother.

When I was born, my mother...

...Maria Dolores Hernandez died in childbirth.

I'm the last of eight children.

I was named after my brother, who died.

Thank you, God, for letting me live.

Preserve my health, which isn't well.

January, 1934.

SECOND

PENANCE

See the desert, Aureliano?

No, I can't see.

We had two carts pulled by mules and horses.

Listen to the steps. The carts' noise.

Can you hear?

See the animals?

Yes, I see.

Where were you, Father?

In front, on the first cart.

We carried the bell there.

Did you pray?

A lot. The mules barely held their weight.

Where was I?

I already told you that.

You were in the back of the second cart...

...in a glass crib so you wouldn't eat dirt.

Micaela was sitting beside you.

Where was mom?

Dad?

Dad?

I saw it all, Dad. I saw Marcos.

I saw the bell. There were horses.

Go on. Start painting before you forget.

You'll show me later.

This one is done.

You'll break the glass, idiot!

Micaela!

Where did they go?

To get wood.

There's a place close to the stream...

...with a lot of trees, like outside.

- Around here? - No, here. Up.