Duse (2025)

[bunniefuu]

[aircraft roar and explosions].

[Dsire recites the "Hail Mary" in German].

[recites the "Hail Mary" in German].

I told you to keep quiet.

Praying.

Not even God will be able to save you

if the Italians hear you.

When we arrive,

pretend to be mute.

As an actress,

she plays the part of the mute.

[inaudible dialogue]

[Giacomino] Between the barn and the river

That buried me...

[Benassi] Buried...

[Giacomino] Who buried me

In this trench mud.

And like lost infantrymen

we live

our incomplete adventures.

Finished?

Let us applaud our Archiloco

Living and his poetry!

Joy of living! Go, go, go.

A talent for comedy!

But here, our

host. Hermes Zacconi!

[applause]

Soldiers, today will not be yet another

day of w*r and sadness.

Today we will celebrate life!

A woman everyone envies us,

the eighth wonder of the new world,

lords and gentlemen,

the godmother of the Soldier's Theater,

the divine Eleonora Duse

Is here for us!

[applause and cheers].

[Hermes] Who knows, he might want to give us

An essay of his wonderful art.

It is an honor to meet you.

No, no-I'm speaking from here.

My children!

Italy needs you

To be free and strong again.

Do not be afraid!

We are not afraid!

You will win!

Soon you will be back

in your homes.

[airplane rumble]

- It's D'Annunzio!

- [man] It's the commander!

[Hermes] Viva D'Annunzio! Long live Italy!

Long live Eleonora Duse!

[applause]

Long live Eleonora Duse!

- [Benassi] Viva la Divina!

- [Hermes] Viva la Divina Duse!

[expl*si*n in the distance].

[buzzing]

[groans]

[Luciano] Put on this one here. This one here.

[groans]

Pass out and don't resist. Pass out.

Pass out and don't resist.

Pass out, pass out.

[man gasps]

Here it is.

- You press here.

- [woman] Yes.

And it disinfects.

Then mattress suture.

It is beautiful, this tree.

Sometimes I get the impression

that you look at me and judge me.

Perhaps art can save us.

[Eleanor absent].

Or at least console us.

It would be nice to see you in the theater again,

Ms. Duse.

No, I have quit

for almost ten years.

[coughs]

I don't even know anymore

if I am an actress.

For tuberculosis, the air up here

Would be curative, but not now.

Madam! Ma'am, he's here!

Calm down.

Leaving me like this

In the midst of all these soldiers.

Meet my assistant.

Dsire von Wertheimstein.

- She is Austrian.

- Maj. Luciano Nicastrelli.

Mrs. Duse, this is no place for you,

better to leave.

With permission. Madam.

Are you Giacomino?

How beautiful you have become!

I thought you would not remember

me.

But how are you?

Still alive.

Were you on stage earlier reciting

Of the lyrics that you wrote?

- Yes.

- But bravo! Bravo, Giacomino.

- May I?

- Yes.

It is for her.

[Eleanor] From the plane?

[Eleanor snorts]

Gabriel-he thinks he's God.

"No one has loved me more

as Ghisola loved me."

You keep this one.

Now it's your turn.

To you young poets.

You stop making this face,

it is not possible. Come.

[bell sound inaudible]

[moving train]

[steps]

[Matilde] Tonight I want to close

the year on a high note.

I will drink to the resounding retreat

Of your dear Gabriel, Eleanor.

Gabriel just got the weapons wrong

for his revolution.

- [Matilda] Should he have used more cannons?

- No.

He had to have faith in poetry,

which is slower,

But it goes much farther

than any w*r.

[doorbell]

I'll go.

Are you still writing, Giacomino?

- I try, but the words don't come out.

- Eleanor] Art is done like w*r.

With blood,

sweat, courage, mud.

And discipline.

[door closing].

[Eleanor] Who was it, Dsire?

What do you have there behind your back?

- It's nothing, really.

- Matilde] Dsire, give her this letter.

[imitating and laughing] "Nothing, really"?

Show me what you have,

what they brought.

I don't understand German.

What does it say? Translate.

The bank of Berlin is bankrupt.

It has nothing left.

I don't -- I didn't understand,

where did my money go?

Sorry.

I have to... I have to go...

- [Giacomino] Signora Duse.

- [Eleonora] Oh my God! Water!

- Bring it.

- [Giacomino] Yes.

[Dsire] Madam!

Ah!

[Hermes] Eleanor mine,

I cannot lose you.

[in faint voice] Water...

Italian theater

cannot lose that voice

Who gave heart and soul

to memorable verses.

How many shows

we could have done together.

Trains, hotels, theaters...

Applause.

Applause for you, Eleonora.

And me by your side.

I know that you will be strong

In the face of any illness,

But you will be strong

even in the face of death itself.

Hermes, "e jamme."

Let me exorcise

this moment, please.

Doctor,

please perform the miracle.

Miracles do not require doctors.

[Eleanor's labored breathing].

Is she still alive?

Yes, Enrichetta,

but she needs to be quiet.

The fever...

It would have been enough to hide this from her.

Don't you think?

Doctor, how is he?

What can I do?

Waiting. Just this.

[Eleanor moans]

I will be back soon.

I ask you the courtesy

to leave the room.

I am his daughter.

He needs me most of all.

[Eleanor moans]

[door closing].

Mom.

They are here.

I will take care of you.

[wheezing]

[shots from outside]

- Ah!

- [Eleonora] But come on, Dsire, come on.

[Dsire] Madam!

Love, calm down, come on now!

Look, take these jewels

To the pawnshop.

Wait, wait...

I'm keeping this one. Go.

- Dsire] Come.

- They're all coming.

[sighs]

Then I will also embrace you,

But let me be with the man

Who saved my life.

[Hermes] Eleanor.

- Eleanor] You were right.

- About what?

That will is everything.

It is my will

plus your will.

Who can stop us?

Do you want to stop us, Giacomino?

- No.

- [Eleanor] No!

What about you, my friend?

Eleanor-I don't understand.

Hermes and I will work

together again.

[coughing fit]

[Eleanor] Why are you laughing?

Why is twelve years too many?

Perhaps you think

that I am no longer capable?

[Dsire] No, not too many.

- Mr. Zacconi, tell him.

- Eleonora, let me get this straight.

Duse rises from the ashes like

the phoenix and returns to the stage?

- You told me.

- A few hours ago you were more dead than alive.

It was a few hours ago, it was...

it was a different time.

I felt death brush past me

And then I heard it slowly,

I felt her moving away,

thanks to you.

And now I feel...

I feel so...

So free and so alive.

I feel.

I really feel alive, alive, alive!

Ah!

I want to start again

From where I left off.

"Look, Wangel,

the woman from the sea is back."

Ibsen.

[steps]

[Enrichetta] Mother.

[Eleonora] Enrichetta, my love!

Let me look at you.

Enrichetta, it's been a long time!

But for how many years!

My love, how many years!

Show yourself.

Your health is very fragile

And you have no money left.

But it is not a problem.

You don't need to go back

To that world of sinners.

They are all hypocrites.

- Do you think so?

- [Enrichetta] Yes.

They want to take advantage of you,

but they have me.

Come and live with us,

with the children...

How are the children?

- Good.

- Good?

- Yes.

- Edward how is he?

Good.

You can and will keep me here.

But my soul...

my thoughts...

my desires...

You can never chain them up.

Free, unfettered, responsible.

What a change!

We were talking about the sea.

Of the storms and bonanzas

And how long the night was

aboard in absolute darkness.

And -- and of the shimmering color

Of the waves on fine days.

But more often,

than whales and flying fish

And seals basking

in the sun on the rocks.

[Giacomino] Tonight

I wrote a few pages.

It is only a principle of a text,

it is not yet a complete text.

It's an idea, here...

I have not yet been able to find

the right time to give them.

Would you like to do it for me?

Shortly we have arrived,

we have to get off.

Do you say he gets angry

If I sneak around?

Curb your curiosity

if you care about your skin.

Day 1.

Day 2.

Is it beautiful?

Much more than beautiful.

You are not helpful like that.

[Eleanor coughs]

[in French].

Take a few steps, Eleonora, please.

[in Italian] Move your arms

up and down.

- Huh? Do you feel free?

- [coughing] Up and down.

I feel so free.

I do not know how to thank you

For this work of art.

[coughing fit]

[bells]

[coughs]

Maybe you need to pull up a little bit here,

Because the theaters are full

with drafts.

- Giacomino.

- Turn around.

[Eleanor] Do you want to be the first spectator

of my new Ellida?

Our first viewer

seems to be under a spell.

[Eleanor] But he is always in the moon.

You can tell me whatever you think,

Giacomino.

Wonderful.

[indistinct voices]

[Giacomino] Mrs. Duse...

Can I ask you to read

something I wrote?

[indistinct shouting and banging]

Benassi.

[shouting] Benassi!

- Stop! Stop!

- [man] I'll k*ll you!

[indistinct shouting]

[Eleanor] Help!

Madam! No, no!

Guards! Guards!

[man] Run! Quick!

[inaudible dialogue]

Teacher, forgive me for the bleak view,

but it wasn't me who started it.

[Man] They did well.

There is no place for rich people here.

I believe her, I believe her.

It is not always a good thing

turn the other cheek.

He did well, Benassi.

[coughs]

Excuse me. Excuse me.

Poor dear baroness...

You wanted to help me and they hurt you.

- I'll take care of you now.

- No, it's nothing.

Come on, let's go!

Huh? Do you do it by yourself?

Come on, you're bleeding!

[shouting] She is here to "re-cite"!

Re-quote Ibsen!

- [Hermes] Is this clear?

- [Cecilia] If she screams, I don't...

[Hermes] I shout as much as I like!

It took me years to learn

how to scream without losing my voice!

Manrico, let her see!

- Mother had also died mad!

- [Hermes] All right. She sucked.

"His mother was also crazy or at least",

say whatever the hell you want,

"she died crazy, I know it."

And he points with his finger. Text.

I do.

- [Hermes, shouting] I know!

- I don't even know who I'm talking about!

But how of whom?

Ellida's, the main character.

Ellida?

That chair maybe.

This is who Ellida has been for us,

the main character, during these weeks.

Who among us has seen the Duse? Huh?

Have you guys ever seen her?

Has she ever come to rehearsals?

I am your stepmother.

- What is your name?

- Rinaldi Cecilia.

[Eleanor] No. Here, in this house.

With this people,

with this dress.

Who are you?

Hilde.

[Eleanor] Ah... Hilde.

Is your mom dead?

Huh?

Is your mom dead?

- Answer.

- Yes.

How old were you?

- Cecilia] Twelve.

- Who told you that?

- My dad.

- Eleanor] Where were you?

What words did he say to you?

"Mom from today ... will be gone."

[Eleanor] Did your mom protect you?

He was protecting you.

Now who is there to protect you?

Who is there? Who is there?

None.

Your dad doesn't protect you,

Because he got married to me.

I am a strange woman, eh?

Cold, miserable, huh?

And your daddy loves me more than you do.

What does that do to you?

What does it do to you inside? What does it do to you?

What do you have inside? What do you have?

What do you have inside? Tell me.

[Cecilia] Anger.

Anger. Give voice to this anger,

give her voice, give her voice!

Look at me.

Get out of this theater. Get out.

Give her voice or leave.

Give her voice or leave now.

[chuckles]

[Eleanor stamps her foot].

His mother was also crazy,

or at least she died crazy.

- [shouting] No!

- Or at least she died mad!

- No, no!

- I know it, I know it!

No, start again.

I don't know

why Father brought it into the house.

It is likely that one of these days

I will turn her brain around.

His mother was also crazy,

or at least she died crazy.

Please dare, please dare!

I don't know why Dad

brought it into the house.

Yes.

It is likely that any day now

I will turn her brain around.

Yes.

- His mother was also crazy...

- Yes!

...Or at least she died crazy.

Indeed!

- I know.

- [Eleanor] Do you know?

- I know.

- [Eleanor] Do you know?

I do!

[coughs]

Let's sit her down.

[continues coughing]

[in a feeble voice] Give me some water.

Deep breath with open mouth.

Breath.

[Eleanor's labored breathing].

[Luciano] Good. Good, good, good.

[coughs]

- One last effort.

- How is mom, doctor?

[Luciano] The tubercles have increased,

but it is the course of the disease.

It is strange, because I feel better.

[Luciano laughs]

I thought about taking her

to the Schatzalp in Davos.

- What.

- The Schatzalp in Davos.

Well, the mountain air

is definitely soothing.

[Enrichetta] They are expecting us in two days.

We will stay there as long as necessary.

I have a show

debuting soon, Enrichetta.

- Isn't health more important?

- Eleanor] Yes, later, later.

When I finish the tour,

we will go to "choo-choo Davos."

Mom, stop it! Mom!

Madam, your concern

is more than reasonable.

But consider,

in a sanatorium, without the work

his mother may be going through

a sudden deterioration.

- Listen to the doctor, Enrichetta.

- Enrichetta] But there they could cure you.

I said listen to the doctor, come on.

I remain at your disposal,

as always.

[Eleanor] Thank you, doctor.

I'll be waiting for you in the theater.

I will not miss it.

Never again allow yourself

to make decisions for me.

[Enrichetta] I learned from you.

Come on, go, go.

I need to rest. Go, that's enough.

[buzzing]

- Here. That's the way it looks good.

- Thank you.

[indistinct voices]

You are welcome.

[Man] It's Mussolini.

Congressman, my compliments.

- My savior.

- Mussolini! How is he?

You saved my life,

Dr. Nicastrelli.

It was just an ulcer. Nothing more.

- Don't be modest.

- Don't.

He is an outstanding physician.

- Mussolini.

- It is a pleasure to meet you, Congressman.

Take care, the batons

let's leave them to the wardrobe.

Free.

Responsible.

What a change!

[door opening]

[Eleanor, sotto voce] It is the same

That gives us, on certain summer evenings,

When you barely have the foreboding

Of night and darkness.

It is D'Annunzio.

[Eleanor] But what do I care about D'Annunzio

now?

The foyer is already full.

All his friends are there.

They will also fill the lodges.

There is Enrichetta. And the babies.

The whole world is here.

Why did you tell me?

You didn't have to tell me.

I...

I cannot be Ellida

In front of my daughter.

- Dsire] I don't understand.

- Send her away.

I can't.

They are already making hall,

people are coming in.

- It's too late.

- Ah, is it too late?

It is really too late,

you are right.

It is too late.

It is too late.

Instead, this is not the case, unfortunately.

[buzzing]

[indistinct voices]

- Dsire] Enrichetta, please.

- Good evening, Dsire.

- Will you take us to the seats?

- You can't come in.

What do you mean?

We have three chairs in row D.

[Dsire] Your mother doesn't want you to

you to come in.

I'm sorry. I really am.

But why?

Don't you want your daughter to come in?

- Everyone else does and I don't?

- Dsire] Enrichetta...

- Does she let everyone in except me?

- She needs you to support her.

- Enrichetta] But I support it.

- This is a different way.

Tonight's tension is too high.

- Shut up. Shut up.

- You must...

[shouting] Shut up!

[buzzing]

Look at what you are willing to do

In order to take my place

In my mother's heart.

Look at yourself.

[sotto voce] Get that

woman, with the children.

[in English] It's all right.

[man]

Ma'am, I must ask you to follow me.

[buzzing]

[inaudible dialogue]

- [woman] It's Sarah Bernhardt.

- Man] Who?

[woman] The great French actress.

He has a wooden leg.

- [man 1] Isn't your wife at home?

- [man 2] She will be here in a moment.

She went to the seaside. She goes there often,

even when the weather is bad.

- [man 1] Is she perhaps ill?

- [man 2] Sick not.

He has a nerve problem,

but we don't know what it is.

- Baths are her pleasure.

- [man 1] No one here understands her.

But everyone calls her "the woman of the sea."

[in English] Sit here.

Let's play a game together.

It is called, "Waiting for Grandma."

Look, Wangel!

The woman from the sea is back.

[Eleanor] Free.

Responsible.

What a change!

I no longer fear you or desire you.

[sotto voce] Benassi, it's your turn.

"Then it's over...."

- So it's over?

- Yes.

Forever.

Goodbye, ma'am.

You will no longer be in my life

Than a memory.

The memory of a shipwreck.

Wangel.

You will and can keep me here,

But my soul, my dreams,

my desires

You can never chain them.

[Eleanor] My dear Hilde,

it is difficult

to resume the ways of the sea.

Yes, but the mermaids who leave

the ways of the sea are likely to die

Or going crazy.

It is true.

But they can also ... get used to it.

They can be acclimatized.

If only they have the consciousness

Of being free...

and responsible.

[applause]

[audience] Bravo!

Divine!

- Divine!

- Long live the Duse!

Bravo!

- Brava!

- Bravi!

[buzzing]

"And what about

Of the talented company

Who flanked the Divine?"

[laughter]

"Act Five:

Ellida breaks free from torment

Who was to her the stranger."

Interpreted by?

Memo Benassi,

a "memo-rable" actor.

[laughter]

- [man] Hurray!

- Long live Eleanor!

[together] Yay!

[woman] My friends,

you have made theater history.

[Hermes] The Arabian phoenix lit.

The Phoenix!

Sarah...

[in French].

It has been so long!

[in French] We didn't see each other

last night at the theater.

You ran away.

I don't love the crowd.

I don't love reporters-no, no.

[in Italian] Sit down, sit down.

[in French].

My actors wanted to congratulate me.

- woman] It was magnificent.

- Outstanding.

- Unique.

- [Eleonora, in Italian] Thank you.

- You have been superb.

- [Eleonora, in Italian] Thank you. Have a seat.

[in French] What about you?

What did you think of the performance?

Like the audience, that you are divine.

[in Italian].

If you enjoyed the show,

Is because all the actors in the scene

were alive.

[in French] Watching you act

I had the impression

Of entering a past world,

Of entering a museum

where time has stood still.

[in Italian].

I'm not mean, but you were motionless.

With hands in the "poches",

for two hours!

How do you say "poches"?

- Pockets.

- [Sarah] Pockets.

She -- I like her. She!

It can tell about

a world that exists.

[in French].

But you don't.

[in French] Our tradition

endures in memory.

[Sarah] Ah!

[in Italian] Not even a world w*r

was unable to change

the old Italian theater?

No, no, it's the other way around.

We rose to the scene

Because of the w*r,

after the w*r,

In response to the w*r,

For veterans,

for widows, for orphans.

To give something to them

after this w*r.

[in French] What is your policy?

Of telling the same things

from before the w*r?

- [in French] Love, desire...

- [Sarah] Ah, love!

- ...the dreams...

- [Sarah] Ah, the desire!

There has been a catastrophe,

do you realize that?

A worldwide catastrophe!

What about love, are the dreams the same?

No.

[Sarah] Like in the Middle Ages?

I think not.

I believe that love has changed,

That dreams have changed.

I think everything has changed,

After this w*r.

Sarah...

You are right.

Shall we give a glass of champagne

to Sarah Bernhardt, please?

You are right.

Fortuny, this is my dream.

For the orphans of Italy,

For our young people.

The only way I can respond

to w*r is theater.

A temple for theater.

I would like

us to build it together.

Mrs. Duse,

may I leave the flowers on the altar?

Also one there.

[raptor verse]

"My strong and healthy son

left for a w*r

that he had not chosen

And learned a word

that he never understood.

The word 'enemy'."

Have you read them?

I was right.

You lack nothing

to become an author.

Instead, I missed everything.

Before I met you.

I look at you

And I see all the women of the world.

You are like an enigma that torments me

And which I cannot unravel.

The pages I wrote

have been the only way

to have the illusion

of getting at least a little closer to you.

If I find a single scratch,

I will charge it to your paycheck!

Eleonora mia, how are you?

[Eleanor]

Nice set design by Fortuny, huh?

It excellently represents

the sinking of the public

In the Ibsenian drama,

namely a fjord.

Look, you know the love I have for Ibsen,

but it's old news to me,

I don't move anything inside anymore,

it doesn't...

I, too, am tired

of the theater of the insiders,

That after such a success

We are told that we are "dogs",

that we act with our hands in our pockets.

- [Eleanor] That's beside the point.

- This is a success because of you.

No, I just want to change the text,

I want to...

- What text?

- An Italian text.

Why always go

searching, searching...?

An unpublished, living author!

You're looking at it, come on.

James Rossetti Dubois.

- Me?

- No, me.

I can understand, concretely,

what we are talking about?

About this.

- Author, one step forward! Forward!

- He is right, one step forward.

How many times

have his plays been staged?

Except for that castrated testicle

I saw at the Soldier's Theater.

- Never. Never, so far.

- [Hermes, shouting] Never!

Theater must speak about today,

people need to mirror it.

The theater is not a museum!

I need the fire!

- The words of the lame Frenchman...

- Maybe the lame Frenchwoman is right.

I would have agreed with you

If you had asked me to stage

a text by Pirandello.

D'Annunzio's as well.

[shouting] Don't mention D'Annunzio to me!

I will never do it again!

- Never again!

- [Hermes] My darling...

Calm down. Forgive me.

This is junk and you know it.

I believe in his talent.

I don't.

You must understand me, or else,

I must go my own way.

You know what?

"The strength of giants

Is an exceptional thing,

But to exert that force

is a tyranny!"

[shouting] Sir William Shakespeare!

And get out of the way you!

[moving train]

[Cecilia] How is it going?

At least tell me something

about my character, right?

- Can we talk about it when the text is finished?

- Cecilia] At least the plot.

The day after tomorrow we start rehearsals.

And we don't know anything yet.

My goodness, leave him alone, stop

giving torment to our playwright!

[Cecilia] But we are like that,

we are curious.

[Russian Manrico]

[Benassi meows]

- [Beatrice] Russavi. It's ugly, come on!

- You are beautiful.

[laughter]

Travels, wigs,

"Woman of the Sea" costumes...

And with the rent for the theater

we come to a hundred thousand liras.

A hundred thousand lira of what?

Of debts.

[Saturnino] There is something

I still don't understand...

[Dsire] Excuse me.

No smoking in front of the lady.

[Eleanor, laughing] No...

But let him smoke!

In fact, I'll smoke one myself.

- Ma'am! No!

- We were saying.

I have all these people around

me giving me orders.

However, we were saying.

[Saturnino]

There's one thing I can't get my head around.

Why propose to me to produce

a theater performance?

You are the only one who has the ability

to dare, Mr. Ciarcelluti.

This is evidenced by his films,

"Ashes"...

The cinematograph, indeed.

By the way, I have a script

perfect for you...

No, I'll stop her now.

She knows the love I have for cinema,

But I realized

That in the cinema I don't have my place.

The only sea I wish to swim in

Is the theater.

Ah! But the future belongs to the cinematograph.

The theater is dead.

But I am alive!

Let's talk between men.

Saturnino,

I'm a lifelong leader.

I promise you that if you invest 110,

you will earn at least 120.

Yes, it may be,

however, a company of twelve actors

Is really an excessive economic effort

for me.

[Eleanor] There can be eleven.

There are always too many of them.

Anyway, what is sta pie talking about?

[Giacomino] "Pice."

- Saturnino] What are you talking about?

- Come on.

- The title is "Hecuba of the Trenches."

- It is tentative.

- "Ecba?" What does it mean?

- Hector's mother, Priam's wife.

- [Giacomino] That's right.

- Hector? Another actor?

No, it's Greek mythology, Saturninus.

- Saturnino] Whatever. What are you talking about?

- I was inspired by Greek mythology

To talk about atonement,

of collective mourning...

- So.

- [Eleanor] Not only that.

- Giacomino] Not just about that, of course.

- Collective mourning?

Let's call each other names.

- Of the thou?

- The thou elevates souls.

- But you and I don't...

- You and I.

I could not invest

more than fifty thousand liras.

Dsire.

I can put this on.

Cassandra,

prophetess, sister of Hector.

- Ah.

- [Benassi] Little sister.

- Benassi is Achilles.

- Achilles. Who else?

This is for the teacher. Where is she?

Has she arrived yet?

Here she comes,

little fawn.

Teacher.

[woman] Come and see!

[Eleanor] Uh!

Give me a hand

Pulling down the boulders.

- Let's go.

- Teacher, it's for you.

- Manrico] This one?

- Thank you.

[Saturnino] This, the first one, come on.

Pull it down.

- Who does Achilles?

- Benassi] It's me.

Here.

- [man] Are these the costumes?

- Of course these are the costumes.

- Benassi] They are hideous.

- But what horrendous! They are beautiful.

These are absurd juxtapositions.

It is a rigorous performance,

of tradition.

But what do you know about it? What do you know?

- Have you read the text?

- It is an experimental play.

Experimental.

This is the right word.

I would add the words.

"necessity," Giacomino,

and "invention" and also "urgency."

[together]

Have mercy on the other dead as well.

Achilles, give them back.

The gods endowed me with claws

And a*tillery to decimate them,

But they didn't give me

a winding beak...

[Benassi, laughing] Sorry!

Benassi, why is he laughing?

Why is he laughing now?

Really, sorry,

but I just don't get it anymore.

"Claws," "a*tillery."

repeated again and again,

"beak of vultures"...

- Say the line as it is written.

- Little baroness, don't delude yourself.

It's not me

who can't recite the line.

Here the text is all irrecitable!

That you were stupid was clear,

but I did not expect him to be a "dog."

- No, but I'll take it down.

- [together] Stop it!

[Benassi] Then why do I have a helmet

And I am dressed in these costumes?

[woman 1] Calm down, calm down.

- [woman 2] It is to try.

- [woman 1] Don't interrupt.

- Excuse me, excuse me.

- [Giacomino] Can we go on?

February 17, 1673.

Last act of the "Imaginary Sick",

dance scene.

Molire coughs.

A vein in his brain ruptures.

But the actors...

they continue to dance.

They take him out of the scene...

And the actors continue...

continue to dance

And they finish the show.

A few hours later, Molire died.

This is theater, Benassi.

You don't interrupt a show

And you don't interrupt a scene,

no matter what it costs.

And you, Giacomino...

You should know that often

the problem is the line,

it is not the actor.

Benassi, come up with something else

to say and resume.

Resume.

[Cecilia] sh*t.

- [man] sh*t.

- sh*t.

Benassi.

Try at least on stage

not to be an invert.

Dear Baroness,

the a*s is necessary.

Progress implies this.

Look, son,

the Trojan mothers

They laugh in weeping,

bringing home

the bodies of their children.

[woman 1]

We want to go home too!

[man 1] Give us back the classics!

Give us back the money!

- [woman 2] Shame on you!

- Ssh! Silence!

[Eleanor] My son,

rest in my arms.

- [man 2] Enough!

- [man 3] Home!

My womb was your cradle,

My arms will be a sepulcher for you.

Rest.

- [man 4] We want to go to sleep!

- [man 5] Dubois, "vai a ciap i ratt"!

[buzzing]

But I know.

That our sufferings

will be recounted

And that future generations

will remember us.

[shouts of disapproval]

[inaudible dialogue]

[inaudible]

[audience] Long live the Duse!

Long live the Divine!

Long live the Duse! Long live the Duse!

[applause]

- What is he doing? Leaving us already, Mr. Vate?

- Commitments.

Well, sure.

You'd better go back to the movies.

Theater is not for you.

Stop being an archaeologist.

You are a pioneer.

[Eleanor gasps]

[Eleanor] Gabriele, Gabriele...

Gabriele, Gabriele,

Gabriele, Gabriele...

Gabriel, Gabriel...

Gabriel.

[whispering] Gabriel.

- [Giordano] Mrs. Duse.

- Giordano.

[Jordan] Divine.

It's been a long time.

The commander is busy,

I'll let him know right away.

Take a seat here in the meantime.

Can I offer you something?

- Eleanor] Thank you.

- You're welcome.

[man 1] Commander, this is it.

The time for revolution is ripe.

Government and socialists

are about to give way.

One word and all the teams

of Italy will follow the Vate.

[man 2].

The ultimatum expires at midnight.

[Gabriele] I could look out from here,

after the meeting with my editor.

[man 1] No, from Palazzo Marino.

There is already a tricolor of ours on the balcony.

Eleanor.

Gentlemen, Eleonora Duse!

The best of omens.

The divine creature that fate

chose to redeem Italy.

My only certainty is this woman.

Please excuse me.

[man 1] Fascism knows how to recognize

who has the gift of leadership.

Um, I'm not going to reveal to Mussolini

these confidences of his.

- I never mentioned it.

- [Gabriel] You're welcome.

[door closing].

- What did those men want from you?

- The soul in exchange for power.

A single word of mine made of fire.

Have you heard them?

No one will be able to stop the black tide,

At its head the Vate!

[Gabriel laughs].

The idea of a civil w*r

should scare you.

You could have said:

"No, I will not talk to your black dogs."

I will look out on that balcony,

But I will say the opposite

Of what they want.

I will talk about life, not death.

Their simian revolt will become

a real revolution

Of poetry and beauty.

Not even Gabriele D'Annunzio

will be able to change destiny.

Whatever it is.

When I have won,

you will say the exact opposite.

Gabriel, stay alive for me.

At least you.

I would believe you...

I would believe you if you answered with a little

Of joy, a little bit of tears

When I used to drop gifts

from the sky just for you.

Stop.

Today you don't have to play the part

Of the woman who still loves the poet.

[shouting] I counted one by one the years

In which you decided not to meet me!

[Eleanor]

Have you seen how I have aged?

I dreamed of you.

That's why I decided to see you again.

Only failure

Could have forced you to come back to me.

Your only mistake was that

Of relying on a cicisbeo

with two last names and no talent.

- The booing was not for you.

- Were you there?

I was hovering.

Give me "The Dead City."

With nothing to claim.

[Gabriel] History has decided

to reserve for us a place in Olympus.

Because not even in a hundred years

Your name will be free from mine.

[Giacomino] Mrs. Duse.

I have been thinking all night long

And there are only two possible ways.

- I don't understand what you are talking about.

- The first way is this...

[clears throat].

You have to rewrite the text

from the first line to the last line,

Then it has to be put back on trial.

- I need ten days.

- Giacomo, stop.

- The performance is suspended.

- Is it suspended? For how long?

There will be no more reruns of "Hecuba."

neither in Milan nor in Rome

nor anywhere.

It's -- it's finished.

You guys can't do this to me, you know?

- I can't do that to you?

- Giacomino] No.

That's who the Duse is!

Replaces Ibsen

with a young novice author

And then throws it out to the public

without giving him a chance to write.

And the time to rewrite...

[shouting] You didn't miss the time,

Giacomino! Look at me!

You lacked the talent!

There is no Duse who can give it to you,

not even if he waited ten years for you!

Take a good look into my eyes!

[crowd hubbub]

[Gabriel, speaker].

From your thousand and one faces

I see braying

a virile joy

A masculine cheerfulness!

He is a good actor.

He is histrionic, yes.

[whispering] Tomorrow we begin rehearsals

of "The Dead City."

Nice, nice.

[continues Gabriel's speech].

I had done Anna

in my youth.

- Jordan] Magnificent Anna.

- I'm going to do another Anna now.

An old Anna.

A good character because she is blind.

- Jordan] Is she blind?

- She is blind.

And I feel blind.

Never before has a word of goodness

Had such power.

All workers

must mean it. Everyone!

Regardless of species,

of class. Everyone!

Nothing...

Nothing vital is possible

Out of the nation

And against the nation!

[applause and cheers].

- [Gabriel] Ghisola...

- [Eleanor] Gabriel.

I came.

[whispering] They cheer you,

but they don't listen to you, you know?

It's not over. I...

I will talk to Nitti and Mussolini

And I will stop this violence.

- You, you, you...

- Me, me, me.

Me, me, me.

We will make Italy a new Athens.

I see, I see, I see, I see....

[laughs].

- "The dead city."

- Yes, indeed.

- Go to Rome.

- Yes, yes.

Bring it to success, mind you.

Bring her to success.

It will be the stone on which we will build

a new country, I promise you.

I wanted to ask you about...

I'm sorry, it's unrelated.

In the fifth act of "The Dead City."

I wanted to ask,

when Leonardo tells

how he k*lled his sister,

I would like to see him k*ll her.

Like Othello and Desdemona.

Yes, right, like Othello and Desdemona,

because...

[laughing] Because it is obscene.

Because it is obscene, Ghisola.

- [Eleanor] No.

- Yes.

This tragedy is visible throughout

Because everything is invisible.

Gotta go.

Go to Rome,

before it is too late.

Ghisola.

[man, speaker] General strike

in defense of political freedoms

and labor unions.

All trains are suspended

until legality is restored.

[buzzing]

[indistinct voices]

[man] Strike suspended!

Now you bring me this train

all the way to Rome. Italy has to run.

Track 7, everybody! Quickly!

- Are they free?

- Man] One moment.

[train puffing]

[verse of fatigue]

[Benassi] Here.

Teacher, are you all right?

We are not going to make it.

But no, teacher.

- We will get it right.

- We were wrong.

Everything will be fine, as always.

[Mussolini] Fighters of land,

of sea and air!

Black shirts of the revolution

and legions!

The watchword

is one!

[marching in background].

[Mussolini] Winning!

[cheers]

[Mussolini] And we will win!

[alarm sirens]

Done.

It can be coated.

No, I thought

that the results were immediate.

No, it takes a few days.

Always less than he waited

to be visited.

The doctor scolds me.

No, it is not a reproach,

But I tell you now that a period of

of rest is necessary.

- [Eleanor] No.

- No?

If I have to die, I will die,

but not choked with debt.

- I need to work.

- Are you touring this period?

No, I'm on probation. It's the same.

Do you see it?

All I have left is work.

That ... it's my poison,

But it is also my oxygen.

It's my cure, doctor.

[Enrichetta] My dear mother,

I stopped months ago counting the letters

you send me each week,

But I always read them all,

from beginning to end.

Reading you, it almost seems as if

that nothing happened between us.

Then again, you know,

you are the master of fiction.

But I decided not to pretend anymore,

Mom.

I have decided that your good

Is more important than mine.

So, smile.

I will never again give you

The displeasure of my presence.

I realized

That you are not my enemy.

You simply never wanted me.

For forty years

this has been my fear.

And now that you're back to being

The only thing you know how to be,

An actress, I understood.

[muffled] Dsire is missing.

[Enrichetta]

And my fear is gone.

[muffled] Where is my Dsire? Where is she?

[Enrichetta] So please, mother,

don't write to me anymore.

Because your eyes are the only

thing that can give me hope.

But after hope would come back fear

And I don't want to be afraid.

Let me stay here,

in the peace of those who have understood...

And he is no longer afraid of losing you

Because he knows he never had you.

[inaudible dialogue]

This reading is a sacred moment.

Let's move on.

- I don't see you.

- I hardly see you.

[Manrico] I can hardly see you.

My heart is twisting. Speak.

You look at your sister and smile.

But a murky thought

runs through your spirit.

No, no.

More truth in the confession of incest.

"You look at your sister and smile.

And a thought goes through you

spirit."

More fright.

"A murky thought..."

You desire your sister!

[doorbell]

It must be

like spitting out a fistful of nails.

Ms. Duse is busy

right now.

It will only take a moment, call her.

No, I'm not calling her,

she is rehearsing with her actors.

- Good morning.

- [man] Good morning.

The head of the government

wishes to speak with you.

Is this a trap, gentlemen?

It is a personal invitation

from the president to Palazzo Chigi.

Eleanor, please refuse.

- Accept.

- Do not accept.

Don't accept. They will use you.

Why don't you want me to do something

great for our country?

Don't you care about Italy?

I'm going to go get ready.

[Eleanor coughs]

[Giacomino] Camerata,

dispatch for administration.

Giacomino.

You are also here.

How are you?

You and I have already said goodbye.

[Eleanor] Dsire.

Mrs. Duse,

you know that I cannot receive gifts.

No, it is a gift that I give to her

For her to give to Italy.

What is this, a church?

Yes, exactly.

It is a temple,

a temple for theater.

A theater waiting

to be built by her.

For the orphans of our fallen

and for all Italians.

And the Italians.

I have a surprise for you, too.

The government intends to take

A series of measures against him,

Ms. Duse.

Measures?

I'm always afraid of measurements.

[laughter]

We will provide

to clear his debts.

- Well, thank you.

- And that's not all.

In addition, we plan

to award her an annuity,

A monthly sum, in his name.

You don't have to worry about anything anymore,

we will take care of everything.

Now forgive me,

the French ambassador is waiting for me.

Ah.

- [in French] My compliments.

- [Mussolini, in French] Thank you.

[Eleanor] I...

I leave it in good hands.

My staff will report back to me.

Ah!

Courage, Mrs. Duse,

together we will rebuild Italy.

Long live Italy.

[inaudible dialogue]

[Eleanor] They are the muses

Who dictated to me this-this....

these forms,

in a sleep that resembled death.

It was a very specific dream,

I just followed it.

Because I think you have to follow

one's dreams.

I think we have something

inside of us.

I don't know what to call it,

it is stronger than us...

[inaudible voice]

It is spiritual.

Goodbye.

Thank you for the life annuity.

[door opening]

[Matilda] Eleanor.

Did you see that?

They didn't feed me to the lions.

[laughs]

- [Matilde] Well, well.

- Stupid girl.

No, ma'am,

you don't put this one on my head.

Now you sit down,

you get on the couch.

The doctor came to see you.

- What a nice surprise!

- [Matilda] Memo. Memo.

- Come, Dsire.

- [Matilde] Thank you. Dsire.

Come.

[Matilde] Now we are here,

you stay calm, quiet,

And listen to the doctor, who has to talk to you.

No, I have to say something first.

I have no more debt.

- Good.

- [Eleanor] The government is on it.

I am happy about that.

In my opinion, he put in

a good word Gabriel.

Of course.

Because Gabriel,

when he has to be there, he is there.

Then I also get a life annuity

for artistic merit.

I don't know,

some kind of old man's pension.

But aren't you happy?

You always with this face.

You deserve everything, Eleanor,

however, now we need to talk, huh?

Listen to the doctor, who has to tell you

Some very important things.

Don't talk to me

as if I were an old woman.

[Matilda] An old woman, a little girl....

[laughing]

[Matilde] It is serious.

The matter is serious, Eleanor.

- Mrs. Duse.

- [Matilde] Please.

Uh, uh!

I promised you that I would

come by for x-rays, remember?

[Eleanor, shouting] No!

Don't let me see them,

don't let me see them.

[Luciano] From this moment on, she must

stop fighting against her body.

And start fighting for him.

Yes.

- Treat, rest and nothing else.

- Yes, I will, after the tour I will.

I am telling her that this must

become her only commandment.

Now that he no longer has to worry

about his debts.

[Eleanor]

I am telling you that I will listen to you.

But.

I can say goodbye to the scenes

in my own way, won't I?

I used to go to the scenes

when I was four years old!

- I'm talking about my life.

- Eleanor, stop it!

The company is disbanded,

there will be no tour. Here.

What are these?

[Matilda] These are the resignation letters

I made your actors sign.

Except Memo, who refused.

Terminal illness?

And wait for death to come?

I sacrificed life in order to see it

Shine once more.

One.

- How dare you? How dare you?

- [Eleonora] Damn you! Damn you!

[shouting] You want to bury me

While I am still alive!

- I'm alive more than you are!

- You are digging your own grave! Don't you understand?

[wheezing]

[inaudible dialogue]

- [man] Good evening.

- Good evening.

- Two tickets to Venice.

- [man] Yes.

You are welcome.

[coughs]

[slow breathing]

- [Eleanor] Next stop?

- Castel dell'Orso, ma'am.

- Eleanor] Thank you.

- [man] You're welcome, ma'am.

Jordan.

[piano music]

What happened?

No, nothing, a sudden,

a suddenness.

But how? I don't understand.

It is past, it is past.

But something serious?

No, really no.

Never anything is serious.

- Eleanor] As in "never anything is serious"?

- Not with him.

[piano music]

[Eleonora] Luisa!

Eleonora.

- Are you here for him?

- Yes.

I am here for him day and night.

He has awakened.

What are you talking about?

He was here and ... He was here and ...

[laughing] It flew!

"Like the archangel," he said.

It is not possible,

he wrote to me that he was fine.

He is resurrected.

[Gabriel, in a weak voice].

Morning star...

You always arrive unexpectedly.

Sit down, sit down.

Here.

Why did you lie to me

In your letters?

It can happen-over many years.

- Which letter do you mean?

- Why didn't you tell me about the coma?

Because so much

you wouldn't have bothered anyway.

What have you come to ask me

this time?

[Eleanor]

I didn't come to ask you anything.

I just came to say thank you.

About what?

[Eleanor] As in "of what?"

Of intercession.

Ah!

Intercession is a saintly thing.

Mussolini.

- Have you two met?

- Eleanor] Of course.

Also in the butterfly net.

But what butterflies?

- He also offered me an annuity.

- A life annuity?

Thank you for what?

Why do you keep lying to me

even when I know perfectly well

That it was you who called him

And forced him to meet with me?

Why won't you accept a thank you

for once you deserve it?

[laughs]

I have always accepted everything from you.

The slapping, the spitting,

the thanks, the crying...

But I don't deserve either in the other

this time.

If that fake Caesar buried you

Under a handout,

I'm not the one you need to say thank you to.

He promised me to build

the theater with all white walls,

exactly as in my dream.

[laughing] Eleonora Duse

Is unable to recognize an actor...

If he finds it offstage.

You and I will be together again.

You will write new works

And I will play them again.

Then young people will come to see them.

"We will make Italy

a new Athens."

They are your words.

My words...

And what did that tell you

exactly?

He listened to me, very long

And very carefully.

Then what? What?

Then he told me that

we would meet again to talk about the theater.

- When will you see each other again?

- I don't know, soon.

- How soon?

- I don't know, it depends...

- Is it up to you?

- Yes, of course.

Nothing depends on you,

nor on me, Ghisola!

We are dust to be thrown to the wind

And to be forgotten!

[shouting] Why are you talking like that?

[shouting] They made fun of you!

They made fun of you!

[wheezing]

With those four cents

they stuffed you.

[Gabriel] Stay with me!

Get him! Get him! Get him!

Away! Go!

Leave this dumb Italy to its fate!

- We do the theater here!

- Come and get it!

- No, no, Ghisola!

- Eleonora] Come and get it!

- [shouting] Away! Away!

- [shouting] I will stay here!

- I will write again for you!

- Go!

[shouting] Ghisola!

[inaudible dialogue]

[Eleanor, in French].

"Live, if you believe me,

don't wait for tomorrow.

Seize the roses of life today."

[in Italian] I love roses.

[Eleanor] Enrichetta.

[in English].

Say hello to grandma!

Enrichetta.

[Eleanor laughs].

[Eleonora] Enrichetta!

Love! Love!

[Eleanor, in English] The children...

[Enrichetta] Nora!

[in English] How many times have I told you.

To not touch your hair while eating,

please.

[Eleanor] Mmh.

Look, you used to do

the same thing when you were little.

- Ti ti ti ti. Like this.

- Oh yeah? I don't remember that.

[in English].

All the food in the hair!

She was not being good your mother.

[laughing]

[Enrichetta, in Italian].

It makes you grandmother laugh, doesn't it?

It would be nice if grandma

was always together with us, wouldn't it?

Don't you find?

Yes, that would be nice.

I am announcing that Grandma is coming to London.

[laughing]

We will all live together. Everyone.

Are you happy?

I am going to London.

[in English].

London!

[Eleanor coughs]

[in English].

Mom, why does grandma always cough?

Why, mother?

[in English] Because grandma is tired

And she needs to rest.

He needs our care.

Dsire.

Dsire, where can I find the clothes?

[in English].

I'll be right back. Take care of your sister.

Dsire.

[coughs]

Nora and Halley need to be...

What does this mean?

Pure mountain air.

Do you want to try?

Parents must die,

Enrichetta.

It could have happened

much earlier.

Or much later.

It is a life that I drag the cross

Of your absence.

I'm tired of your no's,

Of your omissions.

I am tired of being a stranger to you!

You are so angry...

I want you to look at me

the way you look at Dsire.

You are love...

Of my life.

No, no.

You are the love of my life.

Help.

Help me if you want to help me.

"When Pinocchio entered

into the puppet theater,

Harlequin saw this and stopped acting.

'Do I dream or do I wake?'

'It's Pinocchio! It's Pinocchio!

shouted Punchinello.

'It's Pinocchio! It's Pinocchio!

shouted Gianduia.

And all the puppets

from the wings went up on the stage.

And Pinocchio jumped in front

then jumped on the head

of the conductor

And then splashed onto the scene.

But the audience from the stalls

grew impatient

And he began to shout:

'We want our comedy!'

'We want our comedy!'

Then the puppet master came out.

A big man so ugly

that it was scary just to look at him.

He had a long black beard

Like an ink scribble.

It was so long that when he walked...

[tapping feet]

...walked on it, limping.

He had a huge mouth

Who seemed to want to...

[shouting] eating all the children.

[shouting] 'You dared to interrupt

my show!'

Then he looked at Gianduia.

'And why are you laughing?'

'But I...,' said Gianduia.

'I am close to my friend Pinocchio.'

'Away, away from here, Gianduia!

[chuckles]

'You, Pinocchio...

I am well pleased

because I have in the kitchen over there

a nice mutton roasting,

But I had no more wood

And you this beautiful fresh pine wood

Now I'm going to put it on

a good blaze.'"

[Enrichetta, shouting] You're crazy!

Stop it, stop it!

You are crazy.

[Enrichetta, in English] It's all right.

Time to sleep.

It's not real; it's just a story.

It's nothing, it's nothing.

It's just a game.

There is no truth to it.

[shot]

"I... I am Fire Eater!

You have interrupted my performance

And you will all burn in my fireplace!"

[shouting] Enough! Enough!

Enough.

Mom.

Mom.

Mom.

[Eleanor] Enrichetta, "ma" pupa.

There are three things

I passionately desire.

Work, live, die.

Three, passionately.

And right now,

the fear of work is driving me crazy.

And without work, then,

no reason to live.

And to die-you can't always do it

when you want to.

But days do happen

When I lose my way.

I don't know how to start again,

But I know that my home

Is the crossing.

Go ahead, then.

I embrace you, heart and soul.

I know that you will not understand me

And for that I have already forgiven you.

"Maman."

No.

I have never been so cold.