First Communion (Prima comunione)

These subtitles are for the Italian-dubbed version of this film.

It is Easter, it is Easter, we are all very happy,

we sing everywhere, trallaralallalero.

It is Easter, it is Easter, we are all so pure,

we write on the walls "Long live goodness!"

Let us hug and hold each other, for we are all brothers!

Coats and umbrellas we give to the poor!

It is Easter, it is Easter, we are all very good,

writer, director, the audience, and Carloni.

Yes, gentlemen, Carlo Carloni, owner of this bakery..

Who clearly bears the mark of his kindness.

Look how much whiteness is in these windows: white doves, white sheep...

They seem alive! They are the true symbol of this day of peace...

of this day of peace.

Of this day of brotherhood, gentleness, love.

Greetings, greetings, greetings...

Look, this is Mr. Carloni’s shop. We will now meet him in person.

Wait, here are two gentlemen smiling. Let us enjoy it.

- Dear. - Greetings, greetings to mom, dad, aunt, greetings to all!

- Happiness and money. - Thanks, also for you, your wife, children...

everything you wish!

Best wishes! Thanks, and best wishes!

There is still a right to hope in people!

- Wishes! - Excuse me, can you lend me 1,000 lire?

- I do not have the pleasure of knowing you. - But it is Easter...

I saw you so willing and smiling, so I thought of 1,000 lire.

- You do not have them? - What a question!

If I gave 1,000 lire to everyone who asks for them...

You are right, forgive me. In any case everything desirable.

Wishes! 1,000 lire!

1,000 lire? Then lend it to me!

Me?

You see? Greeting is one thing, 1,000 lire is another...

Careful crossing! A car is coming.

That is Mr. Carloni’s car. Let’s take a closer look, shall we?

He has just bought it and wants to inaugurate it on this bright Easter morning.

These are the administrative employees of the shop...

clever and full of admiration for their master.

Finally, we meet Carlo Carloni...

who is still sleeping.

This is the maid.

Pietro, what are you doing? Do you want to wake him!

He asked me to wake him at 8:00. I must go!

Five minutes late!

Here he is! What a happy man!

They even protect his last five minutes of sleep.

Indeed, dreams.

Shall we see what he dreams? Good!

Oh, the sea... soul of a poet.

But!

Oh! Thanks to the horn it all ended well.

His driving style is still being discussed.

To be honest, he just got his license.

And they did not even want to give it to him!

Oh! He dreams that his horn is stuck, poor man!

Bravo! You managed to turn it off. Congratulations.

Yes, but the horn starts again..

And makes him relive the fear of 1943.

Painful, huh?

He said he would be a good man for life...

if he got through it alive.

No, do not worry. It is just the car!

Had you agreed to be woken by the car horn?

So all the neighbors are forced to admire your new purchase, huh?

What is going on?

Oh! I do not want to be seen shabby by the woman of my dreams!

- Yes indeed. It is her. - Pietro?

- Is that the new car? - Yes, yes.

- Good morning, Maria! - Good morning, colonel.

- Best wishes, madam! - Thank you, Colonel!

- Wishes. - Wishes!

Did you see how bright it is?

What a sky! What a sky we have!

This is Antonio, a true patriot. For him even Easter is a national holiday.

- What is it? Is it raining? - Oh, sorry!

Oh, it is you, Mrs. Veronica! Never mind, go...

- water your flowers too. - Should I continue?

This is the health officer, neighbors call him "the sweeper".

Adele?

That is his daughter, she is doing her First Communion today.

His wife.

The only poor family here. They lived in the apartment during the war..

"But they will leave soon, "the war is over

and everyone must return to their place."

Carloni always says this. Moreover... the apartment is next

to his, and he has the right to... expand, right?

Yes, you must admit, you can see a belly.

Try to hold it in... so.

Stand on your tiptoes...

See, is that better?

But you cannot stay like that all day!

Too much!

Enough, enough, I got it!

It is 8 o’clock. Good morning Mr. Carloni.

But my blessed son, like this you drain the battery!

Daddy!

Best wishes, dad!

How beautiful you are! How beautiful, with those golden braids and white bows!

Come on dad now...

- Enough, enough dad. - Why?

On the day of your First Communion you can’t play.

Oh, sorry, that’s something serious.

Today you must be the most beautiful child on Via Meriggi. In Rome.

In the world!

Pass me the coffee, otherwise it’ll get cold. Go put your dress on already.

- They haven’t delivered it yet, dad. - What?

- But it will come. - Haven’t they delivered the dress yet?

What? Not yet?

Maria?

But is it true they haven’t delivered the dress yet?

- What? - What, what?

Annetta says the dress hasn’t been delivered yet.

What? How?

It can arrive any minute, sweetheart.

I bet you have to go back to your own seamstress.

There, you see? I told you! It’s here!

Thank God! Let’s hope this is a blessed dress!

I’m going, madam!

Dress her immediately!

Just take care of her, and I...

Pietro!

- Is everything okay? - Everything’s fine!

- And now manoeuvre. - Okay! - Then, after...

What a beautiful car!

It’s Italian, of course, Mr Carloni, are you Italian?

A real Italian, latest model!

Italian cars are the best in the world.

- How fast does it go? - 120. - 120!

But on a good road I even reached 130!

130!

- Well? What’s going on? - It’s the Rinaldi flowers.

Darling, we haven’t exchanged wishes yet,

Everything that is wish able.

The desirable. The flowers... but the dress?

Well... you’ll see it will come...

20 years ago, on their wedding day..

By photographer Petruzzelli, at Via Bergamo 32.

A smile...

Please stay still.

- I love you so much, darling. - Me too, darling.

Excuse me, look here for a moment.

Thank you! I will always love you, and you?

- Always, darling. - Please!

- Swear it. - Ready?

- Swear, swear, swear... - Yes. I swear.

Oh no! Patience please! Smile like before...

There... like that!

Wait a moment!

She’s not a seamstress, she’s a snail!

But tell me, how can you choose someone who lives in the jungle?

You chose her, because I don’t like her!

The Rinaldis are outside. Hello! Best wishes!

- Calm down, and thank them for the flowers. - We really needed them!

- Happy Easter! - Thanks..

But why did you bother sending us that... junk...

It’s a trifle.

Thanks, see you later. So we’re going to church together.

- If it’s not too early! - We’re going now! - Me too! - See you!

See you there!

- See you soon! - Soon, yes. - Goodbye.

But... did you greet that woman? Oh yes? Good!

It’s Easter, darling. Today I greet even a thief, a murderer.

Do you know her lover has a wife? And four children!

So what?

Try to understand it...

Even better the dress!

But can’t you go by car? It’s not that far actually.

Me? To the seamstress? By car? Inside.

I’ll inaugurate the car when I go to church with my daughter, okay?

- Here, madam. - Go prepare the bath.

- I hope nothing happened. - Call her.

- She doesn’t have a phone. - What?

- No phone? - No.

Damn! One seamstress in Rome without a phone, and you chose her!

Take this stuff.

Well, that’s your problem! I’m not going.

I’m not the seamstress’s errand boy, you know?

Dad! Look at the veil, mum. See, mum?

- Isn’t it too long? - No, it’s fine.

- Here’s the dress, mum! - Finally it’s arrived!

Madam, best wishes, also to the master.

- Thank you! - What do you mean thank you?

I thank you, Paolo, and all of you in the shop.

- Antonia! - Here I am, Mr Carlo!

Thank you very much. Paolo, thanks everyone.

Maria?

- Was that the dress? - No.

Will we still get it, mum?

Yes, you’ll see it will still come, sweetheart. Take off the veil.

- Oh! Thank God. - Maria!

- Yes? - The shoehorn!

Yes I’m coming!

It must be here!

Yes, I found it. But put it back in the same place, dear God!

Wasn’t it on the bench?

Well, where is she? What’s she called, that snail?

Yes, that seamstress! Since there’s no other solution, I’m going myself!

Where does she live?

Via Reno 24. Ask for Clelia Giacobini.

He will be there, madam!