The Year Long Road (La strada lunga un anno)

THE YEARLONG ROAD

This is a story of one of many roads that cross the earth:

Of the pain, hopes, joys and illusions that spring from those who build them.

The authors wanted to tell it with the spirit, symbols and moral of a fable,

to be able to embrace more freely a horizon of common sentiments

for the majority of mankind.

You're still at this point?

Now what? Next time you stop first. Where?

What's the rush? Are you trying to catch a plane? - The road is for all, ya know.

You know that mine is a public service with the highest priority!

Public service! Go throw your service in the river!

I'd like to.. with you in it. I'll report you!

Our tobacco is here.

Easy, granddad, careful.

I have some. These ones are leaves as well.

What's happening?

Did you see..

Anything new today?

What's there to see, Gregorije?

It's been five months since I returned and I always see the same things.

Stones,

windmills

and sheep.

What's he doing?

Among the people in all parts of the world, for every effort

that improves the lives of others, someone has to pay first.

They are the men of good faith. Their efforts

should never be silenced or forgotten.

To this kind of people belong Emil and Agneza.

They also have tools.

He found work.

They're going to Baron Jacoviello. I'm sure they're fixing his country house.

No, no, four days! I've already done them myself last month.

Then where's he taking his whole family?

I get it! They have begun working on enlarging the cemetery.

They postponed that.

Who would've ordered it? Work for his kids but not us!

He was acting very mysterious yesterday.

Why did they stop here?

Are they watching us?

They're talking among themselves.

But..

You'll see..

In a bit, they'll come down here and start working with us.

Those don't really care about anything!

You don't know them. In their place, I'd be doing the same thing.

Work creates envy.

When it comes out that it's all a hoax, we'll be in trouble!

I'd be happy.. If only twenty of them came.

Let's start!

Ah.. they're looking for worms for the chickens.

They don't have any chickens.

This I know for sure, they live next to me.

You sing too!

They're singing too!

If they're singing, somebody has got to be paying them.

Want to bet this time they're finally beginning work on the new road?

And so, he's taken the measurements.

Ah-uh! That's too big a job. They wouldn't have given it to just one man.

To save money, this country is capable of anything.

I don't want to get mixed up with this. Let's go talk to the mayor.

The mayor left this morning.

So who's in charge then? The deputy mayor.

Then let's go talk to the deputy mayor.

Are you leaving me here? Wait for me.

Bernard!

Oh, people, people!

Do you see that?

You thought they would come to work together with us.

Instead, they're going to the deputy mayor.

That one'll call the guards right away! Stop it!

Even if the guards come, what does it matter, what could they do us?

You know what the law says! Without permission, you can't do anything.

Nobody ordered you to do this job!

There'll be a scandal, I'll be so ashamed!

But I'm ashamed more to live without working!

This is Scandinavia, you won't forget it: It has the shape of a dog.

What is it?

What do you want?

Just a word, Sir.

Dad, I'm over here!

Silence, silence!

But where do you think you are?

These matters can't be dealt with here. The mayor isn't here, he's always out.

It's useless to come to me.

I don't know anything and I don't want to know anything.

I can only tell you that the town never ordered any work.

Then, what are they doing, Sir?

They who? Cosma, Emil, son of the late Nokiakova.

Tell them to bring their children to school!

Today I'm teaching the War of Independence.

Nobody should miss it!

Do you remember when I taught the War of Independence to you?

I remember the war, Sir.

What I don't remember most is the last day I actually worked.

Winter has always been like this, since the world began.

And what can you do?

It's an incurable disease, like cancer.

Come, you need to resign yourselves.

The most beautiful story I know..

Is the fable of the grasshopper and the ant.

It teaches sacrifice, good sense and reason.

We need to store in the summer..

So we'll not starve during the winter.

Go now. Go now, boys.

Go on, ask him.

Emil! - Huh? - You can tell me.

Who ordered you to do that work you're doing on the road?

The Town.

But the deputy mayor denied it. He said the Town had nothing to do with it.

Let him deny it.

But if he denies it, who's paying you?

The Town, Bernard!

What would the Town say..

If me..

And Angela worked with you?

I'd say they would be pleased. But Bernard,

aren't you going to America?

Yes, but the passport hasn't arrived.

In the meantime, I can work.

You know what this one wants to do?

To sell my land for a ticket and leave me here.

Don't you understand Bernard can send for you later?

Is it my fault the money from the land isn't enough for tickets for both of us?

Emil!

What is it?

How much does this work pay a day?

Forty dinars for you and eighty for Bernard.

120 dinars a day!

What did you agree for the kids?

- But.. - For the kids, twenty.

We have no kids.

If only we had some, we'd get more money.

You see, having kids can come in handy!

Of course, if this work lasted for..

Three or four months, then..

What do you say, Emil, can one hope for that?

We can make it last as long as we feel like.

If grandfather Gregorio were younger, he could earn money too.

We'll go to America. We have it all figured out.

With the money we'll get from the land and working,

we can buy the tickets.

Emil!

Are you sure that this work will last awhile?

Yes, it'll last.

I don't know what to think of it.

Why them and not us?

I'm telling you, they're lying to us!

We were here all day yesterday wasting time and they never said a word to us.

That's not how to behave! They've sucked up to the mayor!

But how are they supposed to make a road with so few people?

You do what you like, I'm going down to work! - Me too.

Let's go see, Emil is my friend.

Good morning, Emil. Good morning.

It's about time this road was done. Yeah, yeah.

Hurry home, get a pickaxe!

I'm sure they'll let me work too.

Let me help you, Agneza. Give it here.

Let me earn some money too, Emil.

We've been unemployed for many months. I'll sign you up.

You dig, I'll take care of the rocks.

This pole needs to be moved.

Three meters back, come on!

Enough, enough!

Enough? What about me? Emil, we're related!

You're too many.

Sit down, Emil, sit down.

You mustn't, I'm tired.

I'm not giving you anything on credit. It's been two months since you paid me!

In a little bit, I'll be able to bury you in money.

How do they pay us? Once a week or every fortnight?

Every Saturday. Why do you ask?

Why not? - Is it possible to get an advance before Saturday?

At first, you must make do for a while.

When all is settled, everyone will give you credit.

It's better so! They have to go by the rules.

Here's to the most beautiful road in the province!

To your health, Emil! To Emil...!

Emil, you are a friend!

Good evening. Come in, come, Emil.

You're here before me. No matter, you go first.

Emil, dear Emil!

You know, the sardines came in.

I was just waiting for you to open the box. No, no, thanks.

I just want a kilo of bread and three ounces of cheese.

But why? You've eaten cheese all year round!

You want to save money on a day like today?

I'll put together something for you for tonight.

Hold it right there. What is it?

Wait a sec.

We've been looking for you for an hour, you must come with me.

No, I don't have the time. I have to go home. Bye.

Come on, let's go! Don't be afraid!

What must I do? Be with us for a little while.

But my wife is waiting.

At your age, I only looked at myself in the mirror on Sundays.

If I don't do it now, I won't have any time to when I'm married.

Nice way to enter!

How many times do I have to tell you to stay away from my daughter?

Tell them that you've signed me up to work on the road.