Brothers of the Wind

Somewhere in the Alps, 1960's

Once upon a time...

upon the wind...

there was a bird.

This tale belongs to him...

and to a boy.

I just played a part. But somehow it is my story too.

I am Danzer,

the forester.

I take care of every wild thing that calls these mountains home.

There was a time, when I shared in the life of one bird.

But... I go too fast.

This is jumping to the end.

Let us start at the very beginning.

Brothers of the Wind

He came into this world... a prince,

that's how I thought of him.

Because to me, his parents were the king and queen of my valley.

The time would soon arrive for them to pass their kingdom on.

But perhaps not to him,

because he was born the second.

One who is older and stronger awaits him.

And so it was, that from the first, they were not only brothers...

but rivals for the throne.

The father too had his opponent.

A man...

called Keller.

Scout!

They knew nothing of the world, but peace and plenty.

But, one day brought danger. And a change...

forever.

She knows he will not return.

And what of them...

fatherless.

How shall they survive?

I'd say, they are beyond even your care,

- Danzer. - No one would spare the other...

Life is cruel.

To us all.

How is Lukas?

The wind is cold.

Unnaturally so.

Lukas...

He's a strange one. He...

only speaks with nature.

Scout!

Lukas!

Where are you going?

Perhaps the boy was like the little eagle before they ever met.

Home held no comfort.

And so, the battle between the brothers begins.

This was once the home of Lukas,

but now it is his secret.

A hideaway,

from his father.

From the world.

The place he comes to remember.

Where memories burn.

Lukas!

The Sunday special.

When we have finished the fence.

A capercaillie.

Like your mother used to cook.

The time has come for her to choose:

left alone, she can only raise one to be king.

Then...

the day of the ravens arrived.

Omens of misfortune.

She hears him cry, but...

there is another call of duty.

This day should have been his last.

But it was in fact... the beginning.

Scout!

Scout!

Don't be afraid.

You must be cold.

I won't harm you.

Come.

Did your brother kick you out, eh?

Don't worry, I'll make you a nest. One of your own.

You must be hungry.

You don't like bread?

It's all I have.

I'll come back soon.

With lots of food.

No, no.

Wait, wait.

Wait.

Look, look!

I'm sorry.

I started to...

Eagles are famously hard to feed.

Sausages...

That's very bad for him.

Look what I have.

Duck liver.

That's good for him.

Take it!

Your father must be wondering where you are.

Why provoke him, Lukas?

That you don't talk, that angers him enough.

And yet he...

He doesn't recognize his own silence.

I never heard him talk about that day.

He's buried it deep inside.

And so have you.

But one day your voice will come.

Oh, you like to read.

"Brothers of the Wind"

Sunlight!

Essential to develop his feathers.

Hey! Where are you going?

Did you forget our capercaillie?

Come on!

Hey, Lukas!

I'm talking to you!

Aren't you hungry? No?

So you need more chores to work up an appetite! Come on!

Take this!

Lukas!

Lukas!

Food is ready!

Damn!

Lukas!

Lukas!

Go!

Go away! Go!

I did a bad thing. But something good came from it.

This is for you!

You are growing fast!

Perhaps the book fell open to that page by chance,

but his fingers found it.

The story of two brothers,

locked in battle.

The elder Cain, determined to defeat his brother Abel.

And so the bird found a name.

He would call him Abel.

And this time, Lukas would give the story his own ending.

Abel would survive.

Somewhere out there,

Lukas knew that Cain was being fed,

taught and trained to be king of these mountains.

Abel, here.

Here. See.

Come here. Come on!

You got to learn how to fly.

He's still too young.

He needs his feathers to change.

His instincts will guide him.

I've been talking to your father.

You know,

with the summer coming...

I could do with an extra pair of hands.

You could stay with me.

Keep me company in that big old house.

And I have more food than I need.

Plenty for two.

Plenty for all.

Lukas!

Bind this to his leg. You'll be able to catch him!

You did it!

And then...

like this!

You can sleep here, if you want.

I thought you could use it to train the eagle.

Lukas,

feel free to sleep wherever you want!

I got it.

It's for you, Abel.

Here.

It's for you, come on. You can eat it.

You have to pick it.

Abel, you have to be faster.

Or you will never eat them.

To learn takes courage.

And to teach, the patience of a mother.

She knows, to make her son take to the air, temptation must be strong.

I watched her often,

always in wonder.

She will not rest until she sees him take that leap.

Lukas may lack instinct.

But, he's a boy.

And with that comes invention.

Abel.

Abel!

Come.

Jump, come on!

Jump.

Come on Abel, jump!

Abel,

you have to.

You have to jump!

You have to move your wings fast...

or you will never learn to fly.

Come on Abel,

open your wings!

Yeah, like that.

Come on,

you have to fly.

This is good, this is good.