The Blind Sunflowers

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I cannot tell you anything, Lord,

Really, I cannot.

I do not know.

Father is waiting for you.

Orense, spring 1940

Why did you send me to war, Father?

What a question!

Because you had to go.

Good God if you were not.

Wasn't it a Crusade? There, the very first ones...

... raising the flag high, son, with pride.

You say with pride?

But it is not easy, you know?

It is that...

It's that... some things are seen, Father,

some things are lived.

Ideals are what they are.

No doubts on ours, for sure.

But the war...

... the day-to-day death.

They are the instincts.

How?

They are the instincts. Are you going to talk to me about them?

Bestiality...

... terrible topics...

... enormous sins, also.

Yes, this is the truth.

However, let me tell you

These re the same instincts...

... that make heroism arise.

To start with, you must be alive if you want to fight.

and more alive still, if you wants to succeed.

A dead soldier dead does not win battles.

Yes, of course, but...

Life, Salvador...

life.

Would you be get shocked if I tell you that life includes sin?

It's not that is shocks me or not,

These days, any shocking

Not.

My problem is that...

You've got problems or sins?

All together, Father.

Problems and sins.

One gets out of the seminary and enters the world this way...

... in the war.

For this, there is no valid preparation.

You can see me:
deacon, one year singing mass.

Is your vocation still alive?

I don't know, Father.

I've done all type of nonsense.

I killed.

I shot people.

I kill them off, in the floor, while they looked at my eyes.

I had to close me eyes.

My hand shook.

I did not get it right,

and had to shot again.

and I sinned a lot.

Don't worry about that.

I mean, don't worry more than what's necessary.

About the sins, we will worry both Our Lord Jesus Christ...

... who had already His war in the cross, and I.

About the problems...

... you...

... and I, again.

You are confused.

And I understand it. We all have been confused at some point in our lives.

Therefore...

... you need some time to see things clear.

The Bible, which is very wise...

... is also very pretty, beautiful, very poetical.

At some point...

... to mention those who lost their way,

... it compares them to the "blind sunflowers."

They can't see the sunlight, they're lost.

But the sun exists.

There is light, Salvador, and it guides us.

I'm going to send you to a school to teach until the end of the course.

It's a more benign war. To battle with the children.

Good night.

Good night.

Why do you need to go?

So that the policy does not arrest Lalo.

What did he do?

Nothing. To write verses scathing priests and rich people.

If they ever know they're his, they'll kill him.

And why doesn't he hide with dad?

Because... Wait.

Barley.

and we do not have sugar.

Mom, do you think I should carry this coat?

It is a little big.

It's too much, the weather is getting better.

Spring is very treacherous, you shouldn't trust it.

Have it, dear.

Come on, let's have breakfast, it's getting late.

Are you sure you know what you're doing?

If it weren't, I wouldn't stay here.

You do not trust me?

It's not that.

The problem is that Oliveira Salazar is in very good terms with Franco.

Portugal could be a trap.

Let's go.

Now.

Good morning. Sorry, I was in the bathroom.

Good morning. My aunt, you know how she is

She's asking me to ask you again for the rent. It's already the 15th.

On Friday. I'm delivering some work.

If it was me, there would be no problem. But, I'm just following orders.

I know. I have to take the boy to school.

Duty comes first. I'm now going to mass.

Then, can I tell her that Friday for sure?

Yes, yes.

It was the landlady's niece.

And this people, are they reliable?

Two friends of mine have already crossed. We will cross the border during the night.

They will give us false documents and they will help us getting to Lisbon.

Lisbon, of all places.

I didn't know you wanted to go so far. And with Elenita this way, are you crazy?

She is my woman and she comes with me.

She will be your woman when you marry.

Elena, please, please.

We will marry in America.

America. But what is there for you in America?

Enough, f***! Whatever is for us in America...

America, that's what's for us there.

Do you want me to stay here and be hunted like a rabbit.

Come on, Lorenzo, it's getting late.

The kid is right. If I could, I would do the same.

Should you think things a little, it would be better for all.

You'll see how everything ends up well.

My daughter.

Take this too.

We don't need it, and it weights a lot.

Trust me.

I'll carry it.

Do not cry.

Mom!

Enough, enough.

Everything will end up well, my daughter. Very well.

Do not cry.

Come on.

And you take care of them for me.

Take care of them.

Victorious flags will come back

"... to the glad step of the peace..."

"... they will have five roses..."

"... to the arrows of my pack."

"The spring will laugh again..."

"... that for sky, land and sea it waits."

"Go squadrons, be successful..."

"... in Spain the dawn starts."

- Spain! - One!

- Spain! - Great!

- Spain! - Free!

- Long Live Franco! - Long Live!

- Long Live Spain! - Long Live!

To the classroom.

Let's go.

Whatever they tell you at home,

... you don't come to school just to learn how

... to earn a life.

It is important to know how to make buildings...

... to take care of a shop, to cure the sick...

... but the most important thing, after all,

... is to be formed as people.

I.e., as Christians...

... and as Spaniards.

And we will do it together.

Are we going to do it?

Are we going to do it together?

Yes!

What's your name?

Lorenzo Mazo Martinez.

And what do you say? Will we all manage to be good Christians and good Spaniards?

I think so, Father.

OK...

Tuesday...

Arithmetic.

Do you already know the four basic operations?

Yes!

Lorenzo, can you multiply?

Yes, Father. And I can divide.

How old are you?

Seven.

So let's see, Mr. seven years, go to the blackboard.

Let's see. Twenty and four divided by six.

Perfect. Who taught you to divide?

My mom.

What, you dad doesn't know?

He died.

During the war.

My mother does not want to talk to me about this.

Is your mother the lady that brought you to school this morning?

Any brothers?

Not.

I cannot anymore.

Come on, come on.

Really, I cannot anymore.

We are almost there. On the other side of the forest lies the Portuguese border.

We must cross it before it dawns.

I am cold, and I'm hurting.

We won't do it.

Rest.

Be careful, don't get cut.

OK.

Then, where are you going?

Hunt birds.

With rifle?

Not, with something called "liga".

Come on, they are waiting for me.

Going.

When you're going to eat, offer them some tortilla.

And if they accept?

That won't happen. You only do this to be polite.

Go, give a kiss to dad.

Dad.

I'm leaving.

Where?

To the countryside, with his friends.

Ah.

What about school?

In which world you're living? It's Thursday.

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