I, Don Giovanni

---

Oh my God!

Don Giovanni!

I, DON GIOVANNI

I baptize you in the name of the Father,

the Son and the Holy Ghost.

Do you take the name

of Annamaria Conegliano?

This farce disgusts me.

Poor Jews forced to accept

a religion they don't belong to

so an old widower may marry

a young Christian girl.

Do you take the name

of Emanuele Conegliano?

Do you take the name

of Emanuele Conegliano?

Sig. Casanova, have you gone mad?

- Why?

- Don't cause an outrage, please!

Emanuele Conegliano, do you wish

to convert to Christianity?

That's Beatrice.

Beatrice was the muse

and great love of Dante,

whose poem "The Divine Comedy"

is one of the most peerless

creations of the human mind.

Yes, my son,

a genuine masterpiece.

Return to the altar

and you can visit my library

whenever you wish,

and study this magnificent book.

Do you take the name

of Lorenzo Da Ponte?

- Say:
"Yes, I do".

- Yes, I do.

I give you my name.

Are you aware

of what this blessing means?

You'll be called Lorenzo Da Ponte,

like me.

This name will open

all the doors of Venice to you.

I will help you prosper

in the bosom of the Church.

And perhaps, one day...

Lorenzo Da Ponte,

you will reach great heights.

Serf of the devil!

- Traitor!

- Rat!

- God will punish you!

- Death to this vile excrement!

- That's enough!

- May God curse you!

This man doesn't deserve

such despicable humiliation!

What have they done to you?

Did you mention my name?

Come with me.

Your hands are bloody,

Lorenzo Da Ponte.

Especially now that Barbarigo's thugs

are on the alert in Venice.

Have you gone mad,

going out like this?

That poor devil's

in the stocks because of me.

He printed your verses so he could

resell them at a high price.

One can be an idealist

and love risk-taking...

I can understand.

But it's not enough.

Danger must be avoided

if it puts one's life at risk.

One can be impetuous

and impassioned...

but not stupid.

That printer

could have cost you your life.

"'But tell me,

in the time of gentle sighs,

with what and in what way

did Love allow you

to recognize

your still uncertain longings?"

And she to me:

"There is no greater sorrow

than thinking back

on a happy time in misery

and this your teacher knows." '

Father...

can love...

transcend the barriers

of spirituality?

Do you mean physical love?

Carnality?

- He pesters me, Father.

- Who?

He molests me, persecutes me,

takes me to bed.

Your adoptive father?

Your Uncle Barbarigo,

head of the Holy Inquisition,

is not your real father,

Francesca.

Although you're

his adopted daughter,

you're free to choose

your lover.

You're in the bloom of youth,

beautiful.

I love you.

You're all I think about, Lorenzo.

I love you.

I can't sleep...

for thinking about you.

I want you, Francesca!

I want you, my love.

- Good morning, Your Excellency.

- Good morning, Marcello.

"In the time of gentle sighs..."

Francesca.

Your Excellency, Father Barbarigo.

What are you reading?

"Inferno", Canto V,

which describes the hellish

torments inflicted by lust.

"I learned that those

who undergo this torment

are damned because

they sinned within the flesh,

subjecting reason

to the rule of lust."

I'm sorry to interrupt

your lesson, dear Lorenzo...

but I must speak with you.

I have been trying

to flush out that blasphemer

who accuses the Holy Inquisition

of clouding minds

and setting Venice

on the road to ruin.

A cheap versemonger...

who scribbles satirical rhymes

quoting the heretical ideas

of Voltaire and Rousseau,

two French "Illuminati".

- Illuminists, Your Lordship.

- Damn Illuminati!

And no doubt inspired...

by the blasphemous notions

of that Giacomo Casanova.

Your friend.

A sinner who will soon repent,

God willing.

We finally set hands...

on one of the peddlers of these

verses in Venice.

An underground printer.

He told us the man

we're looking for

belongs to the Freemasons.

And that he may also be a priest.

A Masonic priest?

The enemy is in our own ranks?

We went to great lengths

to make the wretch confess.

Oh, my God.

Humble food cannot satiate

One who has left this mortal coil

Lead me to another desire

Different from eating

Lorenzo, please...

I'm trying to watch the performance.

Pasquarello, where are you?

Go back to your place at once

I no longer have an appetite

Back outside,

back outside, do not tarry!

A debasement of a character

as noble as Don Giovanni.

Master Giacomo,

don't take it to heart!

What was so noble

about that libertine?

You, of all people, ask that?

Don Giovanni represents

the only true virtue:

The freedom to savour

our nature

without the bondage of morals

and feelings.

A moment of earthly life was worth

more to him than eternity.

Even numbers, red.

Inside, underneath.

Damn!

Money, priest!

What rotten luck, we're flat broke!

If you'll allow me, dear lady,

I'd be delighted to help you.

- Then you may continue playing.

- The lady is with me.

To refuse a gentleman's money...

is not ladylike, it's extremely rude.

Lorenzo,

allow yourself some rest

in the chamber of sighs.

Thank you.

Betting is closed.

Sir.

Sir.

Help me,

a few coins will do.

I'd like to help you,

but I've been dogged

by ill luck too.

Brother!

Here, take this.

Thank you, brother.

I promise you

that we'll split the winnings.

San Gregorio, 12

I have your share

It must be at least 50 ducats!

Money comes and goes.

It doesn't give life,

it helps make it bearable.

But I didn't summon you here

for the money.

Listen to me.

Come with me, look...

I'm old, worn out and sick.

I don't have much time left.

I'll depart this world

without leaving anything...

to ennoble a life

wasted between gaming tables

and moneylenders.

With one exception...

She's my only daughter.

Her mother died in childbirth.

I love her more than anything else.

- Beatrice!

- No.

Not Beatrice.

Annetta.

Annetta!

Swear to me

that you'll look after her

when I'm dead.

I swear.

I cannot.

I'm unworthy of your trust.

Stop!

Lorenzo Da Ponte.

You are under arrest in the name

of the Holy Inquisition.

The tribunal of the Holy Inquisition

finds you guilty of conspiring

against Church and State.

For violating the oath

to observe the rules that bind you

to Our Lord, Jesus Christ.

For licentiousness,

forbidden affiliation

to a Masonic fraternity,

blasphemy,

sacrilege

and public concubinage.

And as an example and warning

to the whole population...

we condemn you...

to fifteen years in exile

and to banishment...

from the Republic of Venice.

Splendid!

You had a narrow escape.

Come on, a mouthful for each year.

With your talent,

you'll easily find work in Vienna.

Besides, it's a beautiful city

full of people open to new ideas.

We're respected there.

It's a letter to Antonio Salieri,

composer to the emperor's court.

He'll help you.

Just introduce yourself to him

with my recommendations.

You don't know how grateful

I am to you, Maestro.

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