La Terra Trema (The Earth Trembles) (La terra trema)

THE EARTH WILL TREMBLE

INTERNATIONAL PRIZE VENICE FILM FESTIVAL 1948

Starring SICILIAN FISHERMEN

"The events in this film take place in Italy...

Sicily, to be more precise...

in the town of Acitrezza, not far from Catania, on the Ionian Sea.

It's the same age-old story of man's exploitation of man.

These are the houses, streets, boats and people of Acitrezza.

All the actors were chosen from among the townspeople:

fishermen, farm laborers, bricklayers, and fish merchants.

They speak in their dialect to express their suffering and hope...

for in Sicily, Italian is not the language spoken by the poor."

It's been four days.

The boats are full!

The sea's been generous this time!

Drop the sail!

Drop the sail!

As always, the first to begin their day in Trezza...

are the fish merchants...

who, even before sunrise...

are on the shore awaiting the return of the fishing boats.

Because, just like every night...

the boats go out to sea...

and return at dawn with their small catch.

When there's fish to be caught, one can make a living in Trezza.

From grandfather to father to son...

that's how it's always been.

What are you gonna do?

Look at all this mackerel!

It's been a good catch.

A house like so many others...

built of old stones...

with walls as old as the fishermen's trade.

At this early hour...

the house awakens.

It's the house of the Valastros.

Lucia, hurry. Get the bread!

As soon as I'm finished.

Lia!

Lia, come sprinkle the floor.

That way.

Now this way.

While they work, the women think of their men...

returning from the sea...

because the family has always had a boat at sea...

since the days of the first Valastro.

They think of Grandfather and their brothers...

and of their father too...

who on one such morning never returned from sea.

What are you looking at?

Our brothers. I always think of them out there...

just like I thought of Father...

the day he didn't return.

They'll be back soon.

Lucia, fix your hair. I'll help you put your scarf on.

Remember the picture we took once in Catania?

Seems like it was just yesterday.

Look at Ntoni in his sailor's uniform.

There's Cola, and Vanni wearing his first long pants.

Alfio and Grandfather.

They're all at sea now.

The bitter sea!

Cola, where's Grandfather?

Back at the house. What are you two doing?

Be careful!

Finish unloading. I'll run home.

Lowering the sails, pulling the boats ashore...

rolling up the nets, pulling in the oars, unloading the fish.

It's been four backbreaking days at sea.

The tired fishermen want to sell their catch quickly...

for whatever pittance they'll get from the wholesalers and boat owners...

and rush home to their families.

Careful, the nets got all ripped.

Easy with the barrels, now!

How many barrels of anchovies?

"The bitter sea" in Lucia's words...

and bitter as well is work...

whose profits go to the fish merchants.

There are the day laborers to pay...

and the daily cost of mending nets and repairing damage to the boats.

The fishermen bear all these expenses...

while the wholesalers enrich themselves without effort...

buying for nothing the fish that took such sweat to bring in.

Macaroni, bring the big needle from the basket in the boat.

Macaroni, bring it all. Everything's torn and needs mending.

Bring some water too.

How many things can I bring? I've only got two hands!

See? That's the result of too much familiarity!

Did you hear his attitude?

I told you not to give the kid too much rope!

Everything's ripped today. This will take a month!

No. A week, maybe.

What a terrible night. Our nets are torn too.

And you think the bosses care?

We're like donkeys, only good for hard work!

They hardly even look at our catch.

We should sell the fish in Catania ourselves...

instead of fattening them!

Did you hear them arguing while we unloaded this morning?

They were arguing over us.

Don't fool yourself. They weren't arguing over us...

but against us!

They're always in league against us!

We're the ones who can't seem to agree!

It's each man for himself, selling his soul for a penny!

Things shouldn't be like that.

- Forty, fifty... - I'll give you fifty-five!

Four hundred.

This is the worst mackerel I've seen in years!

I'll be lucky if I can sell it. The canneries in Catania are complaining.

Hey, careful with the scales! They're off balance. You're robbing me!

Watch your mouth, by Judas, if you care to do business with me!

That's the most I can give you. City ladies don't like octopus!

Fifty for everything. Take it or leave it!

Tangerines, sweet as sugar!

- How much? - Twenty lire a kilo.

Too much. What's your best price?

- Twenty lire. - Too much!

Tangerines!

No, that's too much.

Hello, Ntoni. Hello, Cola.

- Lucia, what are you buying? - Oh, nothing.

We didn't buy anything.

Here. Give me the change. Sure, she never buys anything!

Lucia, come help me.

I'll be right there, Mara. I bought some tangerines.

- Are the men back? - Yes, Mother.

- Bless me, Mama - Blessings always.

- No, she's in bed. - Bless me, Mama.

Don't, Alfio. Wait for Mama.

I couldn't find the bailer.

- Why tell me? Look again. - We probably lost it.

After twelve hours of back-breaking work...

they return with not even enough to keep them from starving.

Yet when they pulled in their nets...

they were full.

The thought of never earning enough to feed so many mouths...

causes them endless anguish...

and poisons even their few hours of rest.

Grandpa, what did we earn today? 15,500 lire?

We had 22 pounds of large mackerel...

and got 7,750 lire.

Always the same old story.

We work all night, and they benefit.

It's always been like this, as long as I can remember.

It can't go on like this.

Lucia, bring me some water to wash up.

I say it can't go on! I've told you over and over!

Cola, what's up with Ntoni?

Ever since he did military service on the mainland...

he can't stand injustice.

He doesn't see things the way we do anymore.

He thinks differently.

Isn't that right, Ntoni?

For 70 years I've thought the same way and things have gone all right.

Ntoni should listen to his elders.

Like the old saying says...

"the strength of youth and the wisdom of age."

Don't get cross, Grandfather.

Here's the water, Ntoni.

Come and wash up, Vanni.

Come on, get up.

Ntoni, you shouldn't upset Grandpa.

Poor Grandpa... he can only think the old way.

My faithless love

You never became a holy nun

Thinking of that girl in the Via Ferretta?

A fish is born for him who catches it!

- Grandpa, I'm going out. - What about your share?

Give it to my mother.

- We've lost the bailer. - You lose everything.

Ntoni's going out for more fish.

Didn't we catch enough?

Come here, let's divide this up.

There are 7,750 lire.

Divided by 15, that's 500 lire each.

- What about me? - Here's 250 for you.

- I'll take mine and Ntoni's. - And I'll take mine.

If there's any relief, a moment's happiness...

it's the thought of one's girl...

and for her, one can even do without sleep.

Because a man is made to be caught by a girl...

just as the fish of the sea are made for those who catch them.

Nedda!

Wish I were a rabbit to get attention like that!

Rabbits deserve it...

because they aren't as mischievous as men!

Not me, Nedda.

You know I love you very much.

Yes, I know.

So you've told me many times.

But don't worry.

When the time comes, I'll find my own husband.

You're really a very special girl...

and I know your family wants you to marry a rich man.

Rich or poor, I'm the one he has to please!

But remember one thing:

A rich man may be poor tomorrow.

Whereas a poor man with something up here...

may be rich tomorrow!