The Family (La famiglia)

THE FAMILY

How much longer must we wait?

This the day of my baptism, celebrated in our house in the new

Prati district, bought on hire-purchase by my grandfather:

In 20 years it'll be ours.

Among those posing, my grandfather's the one in the armchair.

I'm the one in the baby carriage, in the arms of the little Adelina,

niece of our servant, Nunzia, who you can see back-right.

Don't move!

- My eyes were crooked! - I felt like laughing!

She is my mother Before getting married, she studied singing.

Instead of lulling me to sleep with cradle songs, she sang love songs and...

.. arias from lyrical operas to me.

Millina, Margherita and Luisa are my father's sisters, unmarried.

This is doctor Giordani, our family doctor. Single.

My grandfather teaches literature at the University of Rome.

Amateur poet and Carducci's detractor. It's about him that he likes saying:

"The republican lion has become the queen's poodle."

- What will you be, a genius or an idiot? - A lot of talk!

- He'll be a son of God. - A modest career.

- I want some water! - That would be had for you!

You'll get a stomach ache, a fever, and typhus!

The child to whom my grandmother lists the consequences of greed...

.. is my uncle Nicolino, my mother's brother.

He came from Macerata.

This child is my cousin Enrico.

He also came for my baptism. He lives in Rome.

He's the son of Michelle and Ersilia, whom my aunts call...

.. "the Cairoli brothers".

Why don't you sing something?

Come on!

Carlo: the name in German is Karl, means "free man".

- Remind him that when he's older. - Yes, father.

And finally, my father, official with the Ministry of Public Education.

Come, Susana's singing!

He has artistic tastes and dedicates his free time to painting.

The "Girl with Fruit," which Giordani seems to be admiring,

is one of his works.

Plaisir d'amour...

.. ne dure qu'un moment.

Chagrin d'amour...

.. dure toute la vie.

Chagrin d'amour...

.. dure toute la vie.

- Catch him! - Get hold of him!

I'm 10 years old. My brother Giulio is 7 and Enrico is 12.

The infantry cap he's got on is his father's, uncle Michele.

He came home from the front because of a serious family matter.

One, two, three!

You're dead!

What are you doing?

What are you doing?

- Are you crazy? - Shut up! Look if anyone's coming.

- How much? - Half a lira. - Too much. - That's all it is.

- Let's share it. - What? - I've seen everything.

- You couldn't have, you're dead. - I'll tell uncle Aristide everything.

- Spy! Tattle-tale! - Thief! Thief! - Get the Austrian!

The Austrian infantry is the worst there is,

When they attack, they shit themselves with fear!

Bombace, repeat after me!

Bombace, repeat after me!

- The Austrian infantry... - Kids! Kids...

Grandpa's dead.

Courage, miss.

Come.

Thank you, doctor, for your devotion.

- I'm very attached to your family. - We know that. Thank you.

- Unfortunately, this time, science proved to be useless. - Cover yourself carefully.

- It's pouring outside. - The tram stop is quite close.

You have been so kind!

Have courage. Your father wouldn't like seeing you like this.

I will.

- Be an example for your sisters. Goodbye. - Goodbye.

That'll teach you using my powder!

- I didn't. - It was you! You've finished all the french powder...

- .. I had bought from Bertozzini! - Not me. - Then it was you!

- You're always exaggerating, like your sister! - I'm exaggerating?

- You both are! - I'd say the three of you do.

- I should break this on your head! - Try. - You're an old maid!

- I know who's an old maid! - One has only got to watch the smiles...

- .. you throw on Giordani! - You throw them on every man!

- I can't take it anymore! I'll kill myself! - No, I'll kill you! - Stop it!

- Goodbye, kids. Your aunt... - Enough with the scenes!

Your aunt says goodbye to you for ever!

- Stupid! - I want to die like Tosca! - Open the door!

Don't be stupid!

Curse on you! Shameless women!

"Brunello got away from that possessed black man."

"Now he's dying with laughter..."

To make him look taller, put a cushion under him.

- His feet didn't touch the ground. - Mother said: "Sit up straight!"

Here's daddy. Giulio, come to the table!

Carlo, put that comic book away.

- Giulio, have you washed your hands? - Yes.

What's the matter? What happened?

- Good evening, dad. - Good evening, Aristide.

Today, I was ashamed of being the head of this family.

The other night, doctor Giordani, coming out of here,

right after my father's death, risked getting into prison.

He had to explain to two policemen...

.. why he was lacking the money to buy his ticket.

- He was robbed in this very house. - Must have been Adelina.

Is there a thief in this family,

- who has stolen a lira from the doctor? - Half a lira!

Yes, half a lira. It was you.

Shame on you! You dishonor this house!

Daddy, I also did it. We won't do it again.

We'll give the doctor the half lira back, and we'll ask him to forgive us.

- We haven't spent it yet. - How could you do this?

- Giulio. - Yes, father? - Giulio!

- He's talking to you. - I've answered him. - You see, Giulio...

Your brother had the courage to confess.

- So did I. - No! You let it slip. - Same thing. - No, it isn't!

You've got no merit for it. Carlo's loyal, you aren't.

You're a thief and a liar!

Sunday afternoon we won't go have an ice-cream cake in Esedra square.

Now, you two go to bed without any supper. Go!

Move!

Poor doctor Giordani, what a shame!

- Arrested by two policemen! - Like Pinocchio.

There's nothing to laugh about!

- Can I get them a sandwich? - Yes, but we don't know about it.

- Coward. - What? - Coward! - Who's that?

You are! You boasted only so that daddy would compare you to me!

I didn't tell you were the one to steal the money, and I was just looking out!

You didn't say it so you could show of with me! You make me sick!

- You must die! - Enough!

Die!

- Do you give up? - No!

- Ah! - Give up! - I give up.

- Prices are high. - Sure, if you go to Cottini! - He's the best.

- The wife has grown old. - She's fat. - I wonder how did that happen?

It's because of the troubles her husband gives her.

Adelina, here's the saffron.

Take care!

You can't go out anymore. They drive like if they were at the race-track!

Hey! Don't move!

Now father seldom goes to the Ministry.

As an inspector he doesn't have a timetable to follow.

He spends his afternoons painting mother's portrait...

.. while she writes long letters to her brother, Nicola.

- Madame, the eggnog's ready. - Thank you.

If you go on moving, I'll never finish it! You don't stand still, not for a second!

I'm giving private lessons of Italian, when I'm not at the University.

De Santis tries to establish a connection...

- .. between literature and society. - He doesn't try. He made the connection.

From which philosophy did he draw the dialectical concept according to which...

- .. man is the goal of art? - Professor Tabanelli...

...says the goal of art is the well-being of the nation. - Really?

Old Tabanelli has really caught up with the times!

Yes. When he enters the class, he even expects the roman salute.

De Santis tries to establish...

Establishes a connection between literature and society.

How do I look?

- A moustache confers authority. - A little less to a woman.

- Will you teach after graduating? - Yes, Italian and History.

- We'll be colleagues. - I'd wish it!

- Good evening. - That's how you're studying! Good evening.

- The chocolate is for you. - It's five o'clock.

Since I've been sick, eggnog and biscuits every afternoon!

- What did you have? - Pleurisy. - Tuberculosis. - Carlo!

With three years of hypernutrion and pneumothorax I'm cured.

Silly boy!

Giulio, what are you doing?

- Nothing. She's just a blondie. You're much better. - Stop it!

- Adelina... Cut it out! - Onion! - Garlic!

- No, onion! - I said garlic! - You must always contradict!

- Onion! - Garlic!

- You should take bromide. - Aunt Matilde's swan!

I'll send you both to the hospital! Understood?

- Too much stuff! - I told you.

- Don't bring the crunchy snacks. - The liqueurs?

We'll take care of it.

I'm not the only one. Many colleagues and friends have already left.

- How will you manage in Paris? - I don't know.

Somehow, even if I have to be waiter.

What are we doing here? The fascists have a clear road.

We're talking about philosophers that had already isolated the bacillus of fascism.

"A man submits the will of everyone to his own."

"if united in one person, the people is called State."

Crouched under the monster's legs, we hope it'll die on its own.

If we all leave, do you think he'll die sooner?

Giulio, you open. Instead of smoking.

- Good afternoon! - Good afternoon to you!

- Are you Carlo? - For the first time in my life I wish I was!

I'm his brother. Come, I'll take you.

- Good afternoon. - Good afternoon.

- Have you seen her? - Short hair, short skirt. - And short brain.

We'll be waiting for you to come dancing. You can't take too much of Carlo.

I'm Adriana, Beatrice's sister. She's in bed, with a fever.

I'm sorry to hear that.

Thank you.

- My cousin Enrico. - Cousin Enrico.

If I may. I'm off to see what are they up to.

- Won't you sit down? - Thank you. I've read it in the tram.

Beatrice's progressing thanks to you.

That's if she hasn't copied it.

That's what I'm trying to teach her.

- Observation and appropriation. - "it's more difficult to observe..."

- ".. than to invent." - Good! - I didn't come up with this. Gioacchino Rossini.