"Prison, it's like a play, everyone's pretending." "Us, the guards, the judges." "Then one day, the show's over and you start again." "So are you innocent?" "Yes, more or less." "LET'S BLAME IT ON JUDAS" "Prisoners and personnel of Turin Prison" "Section Six, Ward A" "Mirkovic?" "Irene?" "Father Iridio?" "It's a pleasure." "The council explained?" "Not really." "They said I'd work with prisoners and..." "It's fascinating and a bit scary." "Section Six is quiet, thieves, dealers, hold-ups, conmen... small time." "And longer sentences, even a lifer." "They're in for murder, armed robbery..." "Good guys." "A wife-killer too." "But he's almost out." "So a director?" "I envy you a little." "Theater has something holy." "I have a confession." "Promise not to laugh?" "I also acted." "Before the call." " Arms." " Sorry." "Strictly amateur..." "but we did a small tour once." "You've read the review of my latest show?" "Frankly, no." "But the council speaks highly of your work." "This way." "This is where you'll rehearse." "In the past, shows were done in the courtyard." "I'd like to do it again." "What do you think?" "It's all yours!" "How are you?" "Fine." "Do you have time for a bite before the theater?" "." "We're shooting an important scene," "I'll call you later." "What's next?" "You're on time." "I won't always be with you, I take care of 1,300 prisoners." "This is Cico, tell him if you have a problem and he'll tell me." "This is assistant Rovera." "Work hard." "Section Six is an experimental ward." "Open doors on the block, educational activities." "The entire prison envies them." "If they don't cooperate, tell me." "None of them wants to leave this section." "Right Cico?" "You'll see, you'll get maximum cooperation." " Who are you?" " Mirkovic." "For the theater." "And the camera?" "To interview the prisoners." "No." "Yes." "You need written permission." "Your colleague let me in." "The big one?" "Too easy-going." "I had a newsstand and the bank wanted to recoup on the loan." "They knew damn well I didn't have money," "I lost everything." "So I went back to the bank." "And how." "But with a gun." "I'm a warrior of light." "If I hadn't become a thief, I'd have been a great Saint." "Everyone says:" ""Enzo you're jinxed." "Jinxed inside and out."" "That's what I am:" "Jinxed." "I agree, dogs without muzzles shouldn't be allowed on buses and trams." "Roberto, prison life must have pushed you to reconsider your life." "What are your plans?" "My plans?" "Make it to the end of the day." "The gypsy has a few screws loose." "And you, what's your name?" "Beppe, and I'm a lifer." "Anything else?" "So?" "Your prisoners?" "I wrote a poem." "A love poem." "There's something wrong with love." ""Over, it's over," ""our fairytale is over." ""Simple" ""and tragic." ""It's over, that's all." ""You were my love, my other half," ""our life together" ""a harmonious union." ""All those things that will die" ""we can't divide them, I die too."" "There's something wrong with love." ""Our fairytale's over."" "It's over" "Our fairytale is over" "Simple and tragic" "It's over, that's all" "You were my love, my other half" "Our life together a harmonious union" "All those things that will die" "Because we can't divide them" "I die too" "There's something wrong with love, when it's over it brings great pain because when a friendship dies," "there isn't this twinge which feels like a life sentence" "Irene?" "Are you alright?" "I saw something." "It's a good breathing exercise which is always useful on stage." "Now, even if it seems odd," "I'd like to try a choreography." "Something simple to begin with." "Five, six, seven, eight." "Very easy!" "Don't pull that face!" "Now with music." "Ready?" "Follow me." "Good luck!" "I had a band." "We did concerts." "I miss music in here, I have this." "I did what I did, eight years in here mulling it over, didn't do any good." "I could have mulled it over at home." "Right?" "Toni, what grade did you get to?" "Lower school, ground floor." "Freedom" "I'll conquer today if you want" "I'll share it with you" "What piece of work is a man." "The most beautiful creature in the world." "The most perfect... xxx" "How noble in reason." "How infinite in faculty, in form" "and moving." ""How direct and marvelous in action." ""How like an angel in apprehension." ""How like a god is the beauty of the world." ""What am I?" ""What is for me this quintessence of dust?"" "I've got to say this?" "What a jerk!" "Dust in the bones, what's it mean?" "Didn't understand a thing." "You offend our ignorance." "Did you write this Irene?" "It's Shakespeare." "Not Dante?" ""Oh little starling horse" ""bringing home who is not returning." ""You saw the man who killed." ""He's here, set in your eyes." ""Who was it?" "Who is it?" ""I want to tell you a name." ""And you nod." "God will show you." ""In silence, my mother raised a finger." ""She said a name and you neighed."" "This is good stuff, guys." "Stuff I like." "Why do you wear camouflage?" "You look aggressive." "Who's talking!" "Mirkovic, the warden wants you." " Mirkovic." " Tarsitano, a pleasure." "I was looking outside." "Yes." "It came like that." "Please sit down." "Can you swim?" "You know the expression "play dead"?" "That's us, in here." "We float in a sea of daily routine." "Standing still." "To play dead, one must be lightweight." "If one gets agitated, one sinks and dies." "To survive here, one must play dead." "Get the paradox?" "She doesn't." "Miss, these boys don't make them feel too alive." "I say it for them, the guards and me." "And for you." "Work hard." "Is the toaster repaired?" "Fuck you!" "Excuse me?" "Warden?" "Hello!" "I'm just trying to do my job." "I'm also trying to do my job." "But which one?" "Warden?" "Social worker?" "Fair trader?" "If only I remembered why I wanted this job!" "I'm meeting the union and no time for speeches." "Important speeches!" "A coffee for the young lady." "It's organic!" "Science proves Buddhists are happiest" ""Christian Family"." "Hail Mary full of grace, the Lord is with thee." "Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus." "This is for you." "And for you." "I had it at home." "Thanks." "Sister Bonaria." "This is the director?" "Careful she bites." "Freedom is good for me" "I watched you in the courtyard." "I had an idea for the show." "Here's my plan." "I had to convince the warden but..." "The Passion." "A Passion play acted by prisoners." "What do you think?" "A kind of musical." "I'll borrow the costumes from a priest friend." "You don't understand." "I do avantgarde theater." "Wonderful!" "Something modern." "Within certain limits." "Something showing Jesus' humanity:" "The pain, the suffering." "Father Iridio, I..." "Actually..." "I don't believe." "You're an atheist?" "Not really." "But..." "You see?" "I trust you." "Follow me." "We could do a show at Easter." "We'll invite important people." "Thank you very much but..." "I don't think I'm up to it." "Have you ever thought..." "About what?" "What words reveal." "Believe." "Make believe." "You and I have the same mission." "You can't say no." "Tomorrow, 11 o'clock." "Can I help?" " I'd like a Gospel." " A Gospel." "We have it in paperback, for First Communions," "and the official one." "Is it a gift?" "I'd like a Gospel." "Listen to this:" ""The following day," ""they came from Bethany." "He was hungry." ""Seeing in the distance" ""a fig tree in leaf," ""he went to see if he could find anything on it." ""When he came to it, he found nothing but leaves," ""for it was not the season for figs." ""He said to it," "'May no one ever eat fruit from you again.'" ""In the morning, the disciples" ""saw the fig tree withered at its roots." ""And Peter remembered and said," "'Rabbi, look!" "The fig tree that you cursed" ""has withered."'" "Why curse the fig tree?" "I had never read the Gospels, no one really reads them." "I wasn't familiar with this description of Jesus." "I'm used to the smiling one who loves children." "What do you mean?" "Allow me." "If he were a theatrical character, he would be an obsessed man, obsessed with saving the world." "He mistreats everyone including the apostles, makes miracles half-heartedly." "Jesus never smiles in any of the four Gospels." "Faith isn't born in light." "But in doubts." "That's why the church exists, to illuminate the obscure." "Let me explain," "Jesus, overtime, changed." "He became something different." "People molded him as they wished, according to their needs." "Isn't that magnificently human?" "Teach your actors this." "The human element." "The human element." "The costumes are here." "Very Pasolini, no?" "What the fuck, you whipping me?" "Guys, we have to cast the parts." "Who'd you like to be?" "Barabas." "Barabas freed." "Parole's fine too." "You?" "Pontius Pilate." "Marc Anthony." "Was he there?" "He was there." "Sergio?" "Saint Peter." "Saint Anthony of Padua!" ""Saint Vittore"." ""Saint Benedetto del Tronto"." "They're not Saints!" "They're jails, been there." "The Bible's a cat-house." "Mary Magdalen." ""Regina Coeli"." "What part for you?" "The injured party." "And Judas?" "Who'll play Judas?" "I know, but we need one." "Fuck the traitor!" "Without Judas Jesus wouldn't have done shit." "How about Beppe for Jesus?" "The lifer?" "130," "70," "30." "Care for some roast?" "Can I ask a question?" "You all care about the prisoners but never about us." "If you'd like, there's an extra centurion costume." "No, I already do it for a living." "Good morning Warden." "Do you have a minute?" "Sorry about last time." "Everything ok with the unions?" "As usual." "May I show you something?" "I come to the roof of the guards' dorms every night." "I light a cigarette and I gaze out." "The Alps, when they're visible." "The Sanctuary." "The motorway." "Then I lean over and see this disgusting jail, guards coming and going, families visiting, vans bringing new prisoners." "I wonder what I'm doing here." "I'm between two worlds." "Jail gives you the measure of life." "In this vision of the world, she represents what?" "Assistant Pezzi sunbathing after her shift." "Relax, relax!" "How about a drink?" "I live just below." "The warden gets the penthouse." "Big flat." "You live alone?" "None of my business." "Don't worry, no problem." "I was engaged." "Took the same criminology course, we were going to marry." "She left with an under-secretary of agriculture, not even a criminologist." "Women, if they're not in my field, they come here and get depressed." "I liked your speech on the roof." "Thanks!" "Excuse me." "Yes, De Luigi, I'll hang on." "What about you and theater?" "I studied at the Belgrade Academy." "Know what happened on my debut night?" "NATO bombed the theater." "Totally destroyed." "Yes, I'm still here." "Any injured?" "Just a few, but slightly." "How would you have reacted?" "I'll be right there." "Reacted?" "Very badly." "That's when I decided to be a director." "Have you read any reviews of my show?" "Lately theater..." "I'm terribly busy!" "De Luigi calls me 5 times a day." "The vodka's there." "No, it's okay..." "About the show, do what you have to do, you won't get bombarded here." "But..." "Thank you, Warden." "Libero?" "It's my name." "Means "free"!" "Without Judas there's no betrayal." "Without betrayal there's no trial, therefore no sentence, therefore no expiation." "If you speak of sentence and trial here you're starting on the wrong foot." "The world can't be saved without expiation and sacrifice!" "The world can't be saved." "A new Mother Teresa!" "No way I'm Judas." "Let's say Jesus doesn't do the trial and he can get out on the expiry date." "Good idea, Roby!" "Guys, come and listen to something." "We've got to find a Judas." "I confess," "I'm a lawless bandit" "They got me at customs with seven kilos of marijuana" "Like Jesus, they condemned me, we didn't have a good lawyer" "He suffered on the cross and I'm locked up in jail" "We're mean and the worst" "Disgusting beasts, stranded dogs" "We freeze in winter, sweat in summer, we're in here, blame it on Judas" "Cate told me "Cecco I love you, make a buck and we'll marry"" "With seven kilos in the van" "You can say I'm an asshole" "Like Jesus was abandoned, she dumped me two months later" "What a bummer of a destiny" "I got fucked over by a kiss" "Can't breathe, can't breathe need to go for a walk" "The world is full of criminals, cops and courts" "People with good intentions who build crosses and jails" "But the slammer is worthless, you don't learn a thing" "So before I leave, listen to my utopia" "No more bars, jails, let the bad mix with the good, let the wolf go to the lambs, maybe they'll become brothers" "Jesus shouted this" "They nailed him to the cross" "Now tell me who's the boss?" "Jesus or Judas?" "Give me a chance" "Give me hope" "Judas was wicked, we're better off without him" "What are you reading?" "The Gospel according to Mark." "Didn't you read it yesterday?" "That was Mathew." "They all end the same way." "None of my prisoners wants to play Judas." "Weird." "Judas is a beautiful" "role." "It's Irene." " How are you?" " Fine." " What are you doing?" " Working." "Can I ask a favor?" "Ask." "You're making a mistake." "Until the show goes on." "And me?" "The accordion too?" "I think jail's gotten to you." "Washing machine instructions in the kitchen." "I'll be here." "This is it." "Do we have the same view?" "These are reserved for personnel." "You couldn't really... but after all, you're working for the institution." "And" "I run the show here." "You sure?" "Thanks Libero." "See you." "We're neighbors." "Good night." "If you hear noises, screams, things like that..." "You're busting our balls!" "You've got to be patient." "They don't understand music." "Do you believe God exists?" "It's not about God existing, it's about Italians being Catholic." "Don't tell Father Iridio!" "And you?" "What about me?" "How do you see the play?" "We're in the press for 2 reasons:" "Someone escapes or hangs himself or if something happens like you're doing." "We're nicer, complimented, things like that." "You don't believe in what I do?" "Jail is a rip-off." "The "certainty of the sentence"." "The certainty is that we're all sentenced:" "Tortures, tragedies, deaths." "Not one of them is laughing." "Jail is worthless as it is." "What we both do is worthless." "It helps society draw the line." "Brush it all under the carpet." "No one deals with the real problem." " Which is?" " The carpet." "More trouble again." "Good night." "My apartment keys." "Will you wait for me?" "I'm the warden." " Tortora, I'm in charge." " Tarsitano." "What's going on?" "Leftists." "Friends of those arrested today." "I see." "Nice beat." "If you like the style." "What's the plan?" "If it's just a concert..." "And fireworks?" " Tarantino!" " It's the demonstrators!" "Don't know where they come from." "Was I asleep?" "You were." "And snoring too." "What's with the suit?" "9 am, mass for the police." "Easter duties." "Easter duties?" "I love you!" "You're mine!" "Let everyone know!" "His girl's in the women's jail." "Do you have a girlfriend?" "And you?" "How about coffee?" "No, Marco." "Please." ""I didn't come to bring peace on earth." ""Not for peace but for the sword." ""I came to separate man" ""from his father." ""The daughter from her mother." ""Daughter-in-law from mother-in-law." ""The enemies of man" ""will be his family."" "Bastard, piece of shit!" "What happened?" "A weight fell on him." "Come on, clean up." "Let's ask forgiveness for Marco." "And for you." "A Hail Mary wouldn't hurt." "I don't pray, especially here." "Sure, you do theater." "You're here 2 months." "I've been nursing them for 20 years." "Maybe you had nothing better to do." "God gives me strength." "They prefer theater to church." "Know what they watch when you dance?" "What is it in Serbian?" "I understand you're upset, but this can't be." "There are rules to respect here." "Whatever's good here is transformed into bad." " And she's happy." " Calm down and don't forget your goal, the Passion Play." "I know what's wrong with Jesus in the Gospel." "He doesn't want to save our world, but his perfect one, which no one has seen." "He's stuck on death, sacrifice, because he doesn't want to be in this world." "Of course, it's nice to think that Jesus was made man." "There's a problem:" "He had a return ticket, we don't." "Believe me, I appreciate your efforts." "Your enthusiasm, your hard work." "Don't exaggerate." "One has to tread lightly here." "The human element counts." "Bravo!" "Easy, it's a cross!" "How did he carry it alone?" "I know what we'll do." "Get out of the rain, it's pouring!" "Without the cross!" "We'll do without it!" "Jesus became a man." "What does man want?" "To suffer, to die?" "No!" "What does he want?" "Happiness." "To be happy, damn it, to live!" "We'll dream of a painless world here and now!" "Without Judas, without betrayal, trial, without sentence, without the cross, the rain, cement, without this!" "I didn't understand fuck but if it's against jail, ok." "Is Father Iridio aware?" " The Passion without a cross." " A car and no steering." " The Passion without a cross." " A car and no steering." "You made me think of it." "If I say Passion." "Say it." "Come on!" "What's the first thing you think of?" "Love or suffering?" "They coincide." "Hang the Easter program up." "'Morning Sister." "Tooth glue." "Thanks." "Mary Magdalene?" "I've been waiting since this morning." "And the bags?" "I'm getting out." "Wasn't it in 6 months?" "It's thanks to my lawyer." "Aren't you happy?" "Of course I am." "About time." "Carminati released!" "Guys, see you." "Keep an eye out." " Take care." " You too." "Bye guys, all the best." "Who will you put on the cross now?" "Make it comfy." "It's a cross, Beppe." "Make it comfy anyway." "You're blocking the sun." "You shaved?" "For the part." "I mean..." "Jesus Christ, son of God." "It's a hefty role." "But the way you want me to play him, he seems like a jerk." "Pontius Pilate too." "I lost my chance of being a judge." "Been in a shoot-out?" "Sure." "What did you think of?" "Saving your skin or dying a hero?" "Saving my ass." "I wouldn't have killed a cop or be in here." "See?" "Dying with a gun in your hand..." "I would've avoided this shit life." "Go on, pump iron." ""When the night has come" ""and the land is dark" ""and the moon is the only light we'll see," ""I won't be afraid," ""just as long as you stand by me."" "The Bible." "John Lennon." "So can I see this place?" "NO ENTRY" "JUSTICE FOR ALL" "HIGH COURT OF APPEAL" "Careful how you tread." "Do your thing and then go home." "And the guys?" "The guys will do what they've always done:" "Wait." "They're used to it." "Don't get too involved and don't let them." "No room for feelings." "That's why jail is worthless." "Why don't you ever listen?" "MARTYRDOM" "Where to?" "To the old courtroom, I got permission to rehearse." "I thought that palm trees and period costumes were a bit déja vu." "I made some changes." "With a more symbolic aspect." "Symbolic." "The stage as a courtroom." "If you agree, of course." "I'm sure you will." "You'll like it." "A lot." "Freedom" "I will conquer today if you want" "I'll share it with you" "Come suffer and die with me" "EXPIATION" "LIFE SENTENCE" "Freedom is very good for you" "But you don't need it if you don't play with me" "Come and dance, come dance with me!" "If I fall from the pedestal, which I built alone, will I find you there to play with me?" "Can I rest assured that you'll catch me" "You're here to dance with me?" "With open arms I greet you and of love" "I sing to you just to play, come and dance with me!" "Freedom seems to be made for me" "I'll take some of it and give it to you" "Come and dance" "Come and dance with me!" "The cross," "I'll forget about it" "And my life" "I'll begin to live" "Come and play" "Come and dance with me!" "SACRIFICE" "FREEDOM" "I told you:" "A dead man's good in a story." "You said the human element." "Too much of it." "I'm not a bigot." "It's impossible in here." "But your neo-hippie vision is blasphemous." "Not true!" "No doubt that Jesus is God's son, that's the miracle." "A love gesture to humanity." "Why a cross?" "Why die?" "His sacrifice redeems the world." "Remember Abraham and Isaac?" "God changes his mind when it's an innocent man's blood." "What Jesus said remains, dead or alive." "I thought about it." "I lost sleep over it." "If you're right, we'd live as men." "We wouldn't need church or religion." "But we have faith," "I can't allow the play to go on like this." "Mercy, not sacrifice!" "Mathew 9:13." "So?" "So what?" "I don't care if Father Iridio hated it." "This play won't go on." "What?" "And you'll allow this?" "He knows we can't create a scandal." "He's young, he's got a career ahead of him." "You brought me into this." "You said theater was salvation." "Know what?" "You're right." "Theater..." "Sorry." "Theater, art don't save us, faith does." "Religion is slavery." " Faith!" " Poetry!" " Obedience!" " Freedom!" "Satan be gone!" "What are you, an exorcist?" "Please." "Art, freedom, faith." "We're in jail here." "Understand that." "This theater thing never convinced me." "But to stop now is an insult." "The guys care." "Hair, make-up, costumes..." "What now?" "The show goes on." "As far as responsibility goes," "I'll take the heat." "Try and be more responsible than you've been." "Counting on you." "Problems Father Iridio?" "Pray with me," "God won't allow this." "Why are you here?" "I'm replacing someone on leave." "I live downstairs, I needed sugar." "He didn't have any." "I'll see you at rehearsal." "Careful, don't slip." " Where are they?" " They're not coming." " Why?" " Don't know." "It's my life." "Ours too." "What do we do?" "Should I leave?" "You look real." "You know where to find us." "Judas!" "They found out." "What?" "I told you to be careful, you didn't listen." "I have to choose." "You or the show." "Did they ask?" " If I make a sacrifice..." " Come on!" "Isn't the era of sacrifice over?" "Want to know my decision?" "I know it." "Good morning Warden." "She chose you." "The show is the 20th." "No hassles." "Holy Friday?" "Can't beat that." "Shall we clean up?" "I heard the radio, maybe I misunderstood." "The Parliament has decided to liberate prisoners with less than three years to serve." "We're free!" "A miracle!" "Let's go home!" "What's happening?" "They're going home." "And the show?" "Living is what they care about." "7 pm, in the theater, dressed up." "Tell the others." "Going home too?" "Try to stay there." "Stay for dinner tonight." "Tomorrow we won't be together, when you're home with your families, do this in memory of me." "To you, thanks anyway." "This is for you." "Give me passion" "even if the world doesn't love us" "Even if we are tied in chains" "and meat for crucifixion" "Soon, we'll dream" "laying in the sun, of a thousand spring times" "Without the memory of this prison" "of a time long gone" "Embrace me and don't leave me here far from you" "Embrace me and make me hope" "what does it matter if this is the moment when everything begins and finishes" "Let's swear for ever we're in a breath of wind which is blowing away" "There were words" "There were stars which I've stopped counting lost in days without a reason" "lost in the blocks without returning" "Now don't explain" "I feel how far pain can reach when the night will shout my name" "no one will remember" "What's sadder than an empty prison?" "A full prison?" "Come on, give me a smile." "Scene 81." "You did it 81 times?" "Marco's fault, he's not breathing." "You really look like a con!" "Section Six, back inside." "Ferrario, what do we do with the cross?"