The Garden of the Finzi-Continis (Il giardino dei Finzi Contini)

Is anyone there?

Micol must be up to one of her tricks!

- Did Alberto or Micol phone? - Micol.

- What a stupid joke! - I was only fooling.

They're much too well-bred.

Maybe so, but they're still not here.

- Is anyone there? - Yes, I'm coming!

- Race you to the entrance! - Don't leave me behind!

They're coming back.

We've waited so long, I began to think they'd gone away.

No, the Finzi-Continis never leave their kingdom.

The house must be a long way from the gate.

Come in!

Straight ahead. You can't miss it.

- What's that? - A monster!

Does he bite?

With four teeth left, what can he bite...

except corn mush?

- He's so damn big! - He looks like a horse.

I thought the palace only invited you...

but a lot of us were honored.

We can thank our Fascists for the privilege.

Nice to see you loving as ever. Engaged yet?

- When will you be, Giorgio? - To whom?

Everyone knows to whom.

Been in Ferrara long?

No, about a month.

But I don't get out much, like Alberto.

- Do you know Micol too? - No. What's she like?

Very beautiful: tall, blond...

but unpredictable.

That way!

Here we are!

Come on, Alberto. They're here!

You lunatic-- I'll fall!

There's our Micol! There she is!

My brother and I decided to hold our own tournament here...

since the club's put us out.

- It may even be more fun! - It's lovely!

Like the country!

Sorry that the court looks like an old potato field.

It needs a red clay top and deeper backspaces.

But to Papa, any land left uncultivated seems a total waste.

But next year maybe!

Excuse me. You haven't met Adriana Trentini.

Carletto Sani.

And Tonino Collevatti.

- Want to change? - Are we playing or not?

Let the children play first, then the champions.

- You can change in the Hutte. - What's that?

The cabana. Don't you know German?

Very bad. Learn it at once!

Aren't you playing?

Later. I don't feel like it now.

Do you like him?

- Do you? - Oh, he's not my type.

- Who is he? - A great friend of Alberto.

Milan, college, love affairs.

He works in industry here.

- How are you? - Fine. And you?

Fine.

- Did you get your degree? - In February. And you?

- Me too. - In Venice?

- Yes, but will they let us graduate? - I hope so.

Where have you been hiding?

I saw you at the Venice Cultural Contests.

I knew it was you. You haven't changed.

Why didn't you come over? It would have been nice.

I don't know.

Somehow, I finally decided not to.

What's your thesis on?

English. Emily Dickinson.

The 19th-century American poet.

A fantastic woman. An old maid like me.

Here we are! Jor!

Good dog!

Beautiful, but maybe a bit silly?

Perhaps. What do you care?

Oh, me...

I've always liked women of Gladys' type.

Beautiful, stupid, and sufficiently--

Whorish.

Do you like Ferrara?

It's not nearly as dead as you told me it was.

It's lively. Lots of interesting people.

Especially among the proletariat...

in the so-called working class.

But the middle class I don't care for.

They're all of them more or less Fascists.

Except for you Jews...

understandably...

considering--

But at least the workers at my place...

are almost all antifascist.

This is nice...

but to think of being here forever--

You never go out anymore?

No, never. Anyway, where would I go?

If it were possible to pick the faces one met on the street...

I would go out.

But whenever I did go out...

I always felt I was being spied on...

envied.

Whereas here you pick the faces.

Is that what you mean?

Not exactly.

There are never many of us here.

I never feel attacked.

I know what you think: that I have no zest for life.

But who can give me that?

My seven old graybeards-- you know what they are?

- Palms. - Good! But what kind of palms?

I don't know.

Granny Josette got them from the Rome Botanical Garden.

Washingtonia fiilifera.

Why are you laughing? You're so ignorant!

I bet you can't tell an elm from an oak.

Come on, what tree is that?

To me all trees are alike.

I, for one, detest anyone who doesn't love trees!

That plane tree, for example...

may have been planted by Lucrezia Borgia!

Imagine! It's nearly 500 years old.

Let's go.

Oh, a flat tire!

When I was little, I used to run off.

Not Alberto. He was always more obedient.

One day, when I'd stayed out too long...

near the Wall of the Angels...

riding on bike handlebars with a gang of boys...

when I got home, I found my parents in such despair...

that I decided to be good.

- I never ran off again. - I thought you only rode with me!

I never invited anyone else into our garden.

Honestly?

Shall I stop?

Do you remember?

Ten years ago.

You were just a child, Giorgio.

You really must be blind!

What are you doing?

I've been watching you for ten minutes.

If you were asleep and I woke you...

do excuse me.

You have my sympathy.

Sympathy? Why? What for?

- What time is it? - 3:00, I think.

You must be hungry. Flunked an exam, didn't you?

Did you pass all yours?

I don't know. We private pupils take orals after you do.

I had mine today.

Relax! It's not important, repeating an exam!

Yes, it is, when it's the first time.

But it's done, and I'm over it now.

You are? Then why didn't you go home for lunch?

- How did you know? - We just know.

We have ways of getting information.

How can you perch there, like at a window?

On my trusty ladder.

Come on over. I'll show you what to do.

But it looks too high.

No, it's easy.

Use the notches and those nails I drove in.

Where can I leave my bike?

Signorina Micol, that's dangerous! You get down!

All right! Stop yelling!

The professor said not to go out!

It's dangerous, I say!

Ten years had to pass before you opened your garden again.

- Alberto! - Let him whistle!

Wait for me!

Collevatti, you're an ace!

Well, that was nice today.

Yes, but actually, it was nicer when we were alone.

Remember this?

Are you cold?

Yes, just a bit.

Gina, please bring up a hot water bottle.

Right away.

Off to bed!

No, I don't feel like it.

What will I be like when I'm old?

Like Granny Josette?

Well, if we live, we'll find out.

Today's paper! Read all about the meeting of the Supreme Council!

You think we'll move into the B League?

We can make it!

Today's paper! Read all about the meeting of the Supreme Council!

You spent yesterday afternoon at the Finzi-Continis?

Yes.

And how were they? Pleasant?

Very pleasant.

I'm sure they were!

Yes, because they're glad about what's happening.

- It's quite clear. - What is?

That they basically welcome the anti-Semitic laws.

They're eager to see them passed.

Invitations, broad smiles, low bows...

and the garden finally opened to everyone!

Converted into a ghetto under their noble patronage!