Desierto adentro

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THE DESERT WITHIN

FIRS:

FAUL:

On July 31 st, 1926...

...San Isidro held

its last mass.

The evil government

had the churches closed...

...and forced God to leave

his own house.

Priests were ordered

to go to the city.

The sky cries on our heads.

Against such an offense...

...we promise never

to renounce you, Lord.

I'm sorry. I have to go.

We'll find a way

of baptizing it...

...when the time comes.

This won't last forever.

Watch over yourselves.

in charge of a church...

...who sounds the bells,

will be fined MX$50."

their children to pray...

...will have the same fine. "

religious icons, same fine. "

religious icons, same fine. "

What's all that crap, Mother?

I volunteered to hide them...

...but it's only for

a few days.

Do that when you're a man

and in your own house.

You're a good Christian, son.

Let God defend God's stuff.

I must care for my family.

Where are you taking them?

Don't make me lose face.

They're not yours! Elias!

All the men are fighting

in the mountains now.

What are you waiting for?

It's not moving.

Looks like it's

not moving anymore.

And if it's asleep?

If it dies,

without a blessing...

...its soul will never

find peace.

Don't bring on

a bigger disgrace.

Can't you see

there's a war?

I'll make her feel better.

Pray for her.

Give me your blessing.

I hope you're not wrong.

Father!

Go, Elias, you'll get me

in trouble.

Dolores fell.

She and the unborn child

are sick.

- What can I do?

- Come with me.

Are you crazy?

They're killing priests.

I'm not asking, Father.

Get in.

Even the walls have ears.

Go ahead with the priest.

Take him away before

things get worse.

If anyone finds out,

we're screwed.

Thank you.

You should've brought

a doctor.

Bless it, Father...

...so she can be in peace.

I bless you in the name

of the Father, the Son...

...and the Holy Spirit.

- Amen.

Hail Mary, full of grace.

You ask but give nothing.

Give me back the guns, Elias.

Please.

I did my part.

I want to leave now.

The horses are tired.

Sleep.

I'll come get you

tomorrow morning.

Thank you.

What's going on back there?!

Wait, wait, hold on!

Come on! Move it!

Damn rain.

We'll be in San Isidro shortly.

Nobody backs down.

That priest is rising

the people.

You scared me.

My mom sent this.

Aureliano, don't go.

I want a horse.

Come with me to town.

Father!

Father!

Father Trinidad!

Mother, we have to go.

The army is coming.

Go get your brothers.

Get up, woman,

we're leaving.

Get dressed.

Come on.

What?

They're here.

They've come to get

Father Trinidad.

Carefully.

Hold on.

You brought the priest,

they followed you.

Your son took him

into town.

Hold on, son!

I'll get you down!

Let him go!

Bring water

and a blanket.

- Father.

- Go, Elias.

Listen to me.

I meant no harm.

It was a mistake.

We just wanted to bless

the child's soul.

God will punish

the petty man...

...who for saving his son

brought on the death...

...of God's other children.

Don't say that, Father.

Did you see them out there?

You killed them.

"Eye for an eye,

tooth for a tooth. "

With the death

of your son, Aureliano...

...you've begun to pay.

If I'm guilty,

please, absolve me.

Have mercy.

I'm going to die, too.

May God forgive you

because I can't.

Father...

Our Father,

who art in heaven...

...hallowed be thy name.

Thy kingdom come...

...thy will be done...

Ready!

Aim!

Fire!

Get up, bastards.

Come on!

Come on!

Move. Move it.

Mother!

And the others?

Aureliano?

There's your son.

She was good,

so I helped her...

...but there's no

forgiving you.

God is wise.

That's why he took her

from you.

God bless you.

Go, Elias. You have

no one in San Isidro.

You're not my son...

...nor anyone's family

in this town.

The guns are in the field.

What for? There isn't

anyone left to fight.

Go.

If you stay, they'll kill you.

Wait here.

Forgive me, God.

What do you want

from me?

Why did you leave me here?

What's going on?

I want to do the right thing.

Please, God.

Help me.

Having escaped death,

Elias called God...

...who enlightened him

with a sign and said:

"You are alive

to pay your faults.

Your children will pay

the punishment. "

Lord, give us a chance

to compensate our wrongs...

...and obtain

your forgiveness.

We're leaving.

Hop on, quickly.

Help your brothers.

What do we do?

It's a boy?

He'll be Aureliano,

like his brother.

When I was born,

my mother...

...Maria Dolores Hernandez

died in childbirth.

I'm the last

of eight children.

I was named after

my brother, who died.

Thank you, God,

for letting me live.

Preserve my health,

which isn't well.

January, 1934.

SECOND:

PENANCE:

See the desert, Aureliano?

No, I can't see.

We had two carts pulled

by mules and horses.

Listen to the steps.

The carts' noise.

Can you hear?

See the animals?

Yes, I see.

Where were you, Father?

In front,

on the first cart.

We carried the bell there.

Did you pray?

A lot. The mules barely

held their weight.

Where was I?

I already told you that.

You were in the back

of the second cart...

...in a glass crib

so you wouldn't eat dirt.

Micaela was sitting

beside you.

Where was mom?

Dad?

Dad?

I saw it all, Dad.

I saw Marcos.

I saw the bell.

There were horses.

Go on. Start painting

before you forget.

You'll show me later.

This one is done.

You'll break the glass,

idiot!

Micaela!

Where did they go?

To get wood.

There's a place

close to the stream...

...with a lot of trees,

like outside.

- Around here?

- No, here. Up.

Up.

There. Close to

the snake mountain.

When will you take me

with you?

You know I can't.

Let's eat.

Thank you, Lord,

for this holy meal...

...that you've given us.

I hear you, God.

I achieve what you see.

I abide your mandate.

I follow all your laws.

Amen.

Give her to me!

Reach her!

Micaela!

What?

I want new leaves.

Leave them there.

If I ask for something,

will God grant it?

Only if you have

a lot of faith.

How does God know?

How does He know what?

That I have faith.

Come here.

See that outside?

Do you see the church?

The church is a gift

for God.

Everyday we build

another piece...

...and everyday we show

a bit more of our faith.

When it's done,

we'll call God with the bell.

He'll show us the light

and say we're forgiven.

Is God very mad?

To bed. Come on.

Micaela, let me brush

your hair!

Micaela!

Micaela!

What do you want?

A favor.

If I do this favor,

can I touch you?

No.

Okay! You can!

- What is it?

- A gift.

Place it in the church.

Not your hand.

I touched it.

I want your face.

If I touch Aureliano

he doesn't die, you know?

I'll talk to you later!

Give me health,

Holy Father...

...to go outside and play

in the tree with my brothers.

Come, son.

Get inside the trunk.

I'm sleepy.

Come on. Don't you want

to climb the tree?

We're getting out

of your room.

We're in the hall.

The kitchen still smells

of tortillas.

We're outside.

The sun is high.

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