The Ties (Lacci)

Naples, early 1980s.

I don't believe it.

You don't...

it's not possible.

You should always tell the truth.

- I tell the truth at school. - You should at home, too.

You've got lovely hair. It's so long.

I know.

- You should wear a ponytail. - I don't like ponytails.

I do, though.

Wear one for me, ponytails suit you.

I look better with a hairband.

You looked beautiful with a ponytail when you were little.

My hair was longer then.

It's still long enough. Look how nice it is.

No, it's too short, I don't like it.

That's enough, get out.

- It's not rinsed yet. - No, they've been in half an hour.

Come on, Sandro.

How long have you been in the water?

- Half an hour... - The time it takes.

I'll make some sandwiches.

As the cubs play, a series of tactile, olfactory and auditory sensations

strengthen the ties between family members,

helping to build a sense of trust, respect and affection

which will remain stable throughout their lives.

As soon as the cubs are hungry again,

the lionesses will have to set off on another hunting expedition.

"Three children from Barletta,

out walking in the countryside,

came across a nice smooth, brown path.

"What can it be?" asked the eldest.

"It's not wood," said the second.

"And it's not coal, either!" said the third.

All three of them knelt down to try and find out,

and they licked the ground.

It was chocolate!

It was a chocolate road!"

I love it when you talk like that.

Like what?

Nice... princely.

It's the voice I use for the radio.

Why can't we listen to you?

Because it's aired while you're at school. If they change the time...

if they do, will you spend more time in Rome?

No... just the same. Not more.

Are they asleep?

They were exhausted.

Look at that.

- I forgot. - What if the kids had taken it?

Instead of making a fuss, why didn't you take it...

and put it away?

- I wanted you to see it. - No, you wanted to preach!

Vanda, what's wrong with you?

Is that any way to talk to me?

What's wrong with me? And you?

What is it?

Something happened...

I slept with another woman.

I slept with another woman, Vanda.

Are you having an affair?

I don't know.

No...

Why are you telling me?

Why am I telling you?

Why did you do it?

It just happened.

How long's it been going on?

Who is she?

This is stupid...

- No, it's not stupid. - It's stupid to ask me who.

Why did you tell me?

I told you I slept with another woman.

That's all.

I know it's not nice, but I wanted to tell you.

But why are you telling me?

Because I didn't want to hide it.

If it doesn't mean anything, you should have thought twice before telling me.

But you've told me now.

What am I supposed to do now?

Tell me.

Do I forgive you?

You apologise and I forgive you?

I felt a need to tell you.

- You've fallen in love! - I knew it.

I told you, I'm confused, help me instead of asking pointless questions!

No, don't be arrogant! First you behave like a shit,

and now you're saying I ask stupid questions.

Vanda...

Come here...

Go away!

What was it like?

Nice? Sordid, exciting?

- Tell me. - Stop it!

Where did it happen?

Will you think rationally for once instead of making a ridiculous scene?

Get out!

- Get out, or I will. - Come on...

I want you to go!

Get out!

Get out! I have a right to be left on my own!

Get out!

It's time we rescued an important but little known novel.

"Malacqua" by Nicola Pugliese.

It talks about four days of heavy rain in Naples, the sunny city.

You only glimpse Naples in the rain, you don't see it.

The characters in this novel stand at their windows,

the rain can be heard on the windowpanes most of the time,

they hear it outside, they are stuck at home.

They spend as little time as possible outdoors.

Inside, they make love, they are scared.

They mostly wait for the rain to stop, but it doesn't stop.

"Malacqua" in Neapolitan means when things start to look bad.

Hi, Vanda.

Hi, Giulio.

Here we are then.

In case you've forgotten, let me remind you: I'm your wife.

Sandro keeps asking me about you.

And Anna won't wash her hair

because she says you're the only one who knows how to dry it.

You don't realise what you've done to me.

It feels as though you've stuck a hand down my throat,

and pulled and pulled

until you tore out what I had in my chest.

All of it.

It wasn't against you.

No one meant to hurt anyone.

Aldo, what happened to you can happen,

I don't live in a separate world.

But you have to come home.

We made a pact when we decided to live together.

Do you remember we made a pact?

If we hadn't, I too would have happily lived a different life.

We said so back then.

If we got married, it was to be for good.

I followed you to Naples. Without any family and friends!

But I did it because of that pact.

So now you have to come home.

It's not only a matter of love,

it's a matter of loyalty.

If you're in love, that changes things.

Just tell me.

If you tell me the truth now, you'll save everyone's lives.

I have a right to know where I stand,

then I'll know whether I'm right to bring you home or not.

Are you in love?

"Three children from Barletta,

out walking in the countryside,

came across a nice smooth, brown path.

"What can it be?" asked the eldest.

"It's not wood," said the second.

"And it's not coal, either!" said the third.

All three of them,

knelt down to try and find out, and they licked the ground.

It was chocolate!

It was a chocolate road!

Do you like it, Dad?

Love it.

Do you?

No.

Why don't we change channels then?

Because we thought you like it.

"Liked it", you mean.

I wanted to show you a drawing.

Okay.

That's lovely! What is it?

I drew my dream.

A dream?

Nice...

- Don't you want to hear about it? - Of course.

I'd just got back from the beach, but I'd gone on my own

because you and Mum said I was old enough.

Down in the yard, I met the lady from the shop who said to me,

"What are you doing here?"

I got scared and answered, "I need to have a shower".

And she says, "Where?"

And I reply, "Aren't my parents here?

Isn't Sandro here?"

And she replies, "but they're still alive!"

And this is Dad with a beard.

What lovely colours! You draw really well.

I can draw better than that.

You? Better than her?

Aldo, can you come here a minute?

You watch some cartoons.

We just have, with Dad!

Then watch some more.

What's up now?

If you come here, be present.

- What's the problem? - You're bored.

They get bored too. So? Can't we get bored now?

You can't wait to return to Rome.

You do realise Anna dreamt she was dead?

You didn't bat an eyelid, you weren't moved,

you just admired the colours.

What do you mean?

Sandro and Anna have a right to a family,

a family with a home where they eat together, do their homework,

have dinner, watch a bit of TV, then go to bed.

Maybe you're not interested in bringing them up,