Stefan Zweig: Farewell to Europe Page #3

The fate of German-language writers

could be your fate tomorrow.

When in a hundred years an historian

mentions a congress of thinkers and artists

that took place in 1936,

he will no longer be able to claim

that this congress remained silent

in the face of those dangers

that threatened the intellect

and the servants of the intellect.

Thank you for your attention.

Ladies and gentlemen...

I don't believe we're mixing

with the dangerous world of politics

when I propose to honor

all those German-language writers

who have been forced into exile,

forced to live in a foreign country

or have been imprisoned

in a concentration camp.

We think of...

Let us reaffirm our brotherly,

profoundly heart-felt sympathy,

and send them courage

and hope.

Before the discussion is continued

with Mr. Figueiredo's speech

we will hear the translation

of Mr. Ludwig's speech.

Firstly in Spanish, then in French.

Esteemed delegates, I have the honor of

speaking to you on behalf of the exiled...

Would you like to attend

Madame Ocampo's private banquet?

I have to confirm by noon.

One afternoon in May in 1933,

I had the honor of sharing the fate

of my most esteemed contemporaries

on a certain pyre.

I took up my place

between Heinrich Heine and Spinoza.

Bahia Province, Brazil

January 1941

...quite different

depending on the region.

They can live for 20 years,

but here they usually last five.

The sugar cane here

can live for five years.

We cut it off just above the ground,

the stalk. The stump will sprout again.

And then it takes 12 months

for them to look like this.

They cut the stalk and it takes...

12?

- 12.

12 months until it's fully grown.

And how...

- Yes?

How do you plant them?

That's the easiest part.

We use shoots from the lower section.

They should have two to four knots.

The stalk should have four knots.

You put the shoots in the ground,

so they are lightly covered by soil.

You put the stalks in the ground.

Do you know how many shoots

we plant per hectare?

He asks if you know how many shoots

they plant per hectare.

No. No idea.

About 20,000, I'd say.

Remarkable!

Here. Try it.

It's edible.

You have to chew it. It's sweet.

Very sweet.

Delicious. Very sweet.

What did I tell you?

Do you know how many pounds of sugar cane

a good worker can harvest a day?

He certainly wouldn't work here for long.

Give it another try.

Well, perhaps...

I have no idea.

Stefan,

help me, I'm making a fool of myself.

Vitor, are you all right?

- Everything's fine. Don't worry.

Go ahead, I'll get Sefior Zweig.

Sefior Zweig!

Begone!

Does the Senhora also have children?

No. I don't have children.

I have seven.

The oldest is 17 years old.

The youngest is two and a half.

We... travel a lot.

It's... difficult with children.

Where do you live?

For five months... we've been traveling.

Three months Rio, Argentina,

Uruguay, Venezuela.

My husband holds speeches... does readings.

We have a house in England, but...

the war...

That's why we have to...

leave.

Is the Senhora English?

- No, no. German.

But for six years...

no longer in Germany.

Why?

The war.

We are Jews.

Difficult...

Many people...

Many people are...

There is no war here.

You're young.

Perhaps you'll have children here.

What's wrong with him?

Sorry, Sefiora Zweig.

We're very late.

Where were you?

I wrote the telegram to Cata's daughter

on behalf of Eisemann.

It's the most inappropriate moment,

but I don't know who else to turn to.

We'll call Hanna and Manfred to say

we'll be in New York to look after Eva.

We really mustn't miss that plane.

Oh no, Vitor!

- I'm fine.

You're fine?

- Yes, thank you.

Go straight ahead!

Everything there?

Passports, Brazilian residence permits,

plane tickets,

visas,

fingerprints, photographs,

speech invitations.

Tomorrow we'll get the luggage tickets,

the luggage insurance,

and the customs certificate.

Where are we going to get changed?

In New York it's minus 15.

Vitor,

can't we drive directly to Recife?

No, that's impossible.

It's a five-hour drive, plus the flights.

Please, don't do that to me.

You know that the mayor wanted

to welcome you at the town hall.

He agreed to move it all to the fazenda.

He'll kill me if we don't come.

Not a day goes by without a reception.

So many people every time, it's too much.

But Dos Santos knows my father...

- Can we send a telegram from the fazenda?

I don't know.

It's about a visa for a friend from London.

It's important!

Cuba's ambassador had promised it,

but he suddenly died.

Now we must ask his daughter.

Perhaps I could talk to de Souza

about a Brazilian visa.

Brazil stopped issuing visas to Jews.

Is that true?

We will find someone to send

the telegram from Cachoeira.

I'll see to it.

Good.

It's off to the mayor's reception we go.

Seriously, I have no idea

how we should do it.

Tomorrow, Belem-Trinidad,

six and a half hours,

Trinidad-Miami, nine and a half hours.

Then Miami-New York, another nine hours.

But we can't access our luggage.

It's either our winter coats now,

or we freeze in New York.

A lovely sight:
me in my tropical suit

in the New York snow.

I was planning my clown show in New York.

Minus 15 in a thin tropical suit.

Dr. Zweig goes to New York

in his tropical suit! At minus 15!

What? Who?

- They're here already.

Put your jacket on, Bernardo.

Oh my God.

Are we too early?

- No idea.

Stay there for a moment,

I'll be right back.

Wait a minute!

No, no, no!

Don't give me that "wait a minute!"

None of that "Bernardo!" Not now.

Vitor, come! Vitor!

I said:
at the town hall...

Poor man.

I hope he doesn't have a heart attack.

Far too late. Half the guests...

Look at this mess.

If we don't move,

they might forget about us.

Senhor. How do you do?

We thought you might like

a pick-me-up in this heat.

It's almost unbearable.

Does he understand us at all?

Thank you so much,

that is very kind of you.

He says "thank you"!

This is a specialty from Bahia, homemade.

Will we cause even more trouble

if we get out?

If we want to get to Recife today,

we have no other choice.

Claudia!

Look how beautiful she is! How do you do?

Senhofl

Bernardo, you are the mayor.

You can do this.

Don't eat it all at once...

- It isn't that bad.

Someone has to tell you, right?

Because it's the truth.

No, not there.

Oh, please! This can't be...

Calm down, Bernardo.

Take a deep breath.

Would you sign your book?

Nobody understands women like you do.

Get out of the way.

My dear Senhora Zeig.

Dr. Zeig.

You find me grief-stricken. I am

terribly sorry to welcome you like this.

Oh no, I beg you.

We are extremely grateful to you

for welcoming us.

We would gladly have visited you

at your town hall, but...

At the town hall.

We have to catch our plane in Recife

and it's wonderful that you...

The bus broke down.

It had a flat tire.

The guests won't make it.

The bus had a flat tire.

The other guests won't make it.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes