The Dark Valley

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We're looking for someone.

Some things may not be spoken of...

things from the past,

from long ago.

But this does not mean

you can ever forget them.

There are things

that can never be forgotten.

How the stranger found us was a mystery.

The idea of anyone

living so close to the skies

was a mere legend

in the villages down below.

And that was just fine with our people.

Who are you?

Greider.

What do you want up here?

Lodgings.

You'd better get lost.

Didn't you hear?

How long did you say you wanted to stay?

For the winter.

One bag won't be enough.

What do you want here, anyway?

When the stranger told them

what he wanted,

none of Brenner's sons said a word.

No one had expected anything like that.

Even Old Brenner was speechless at first.

Because what the stranger

had with him was a mirror.

A mirror with a memory.

That's what Old Brenner called it.

Then they brought the stranger to us.

- For the winter?

- We'll see.

Where's your daughter?

She's inside.

Call her down

so she can meet him.

Luzi!

What?

Come and say hello to your guest.

This is Luzi.

And this is your lodger.

Greider's his name.

Take good care of him.

But not too good.

See you.

You can make it yourself.

Luzi!

It's okay.

- No, I'll do it.

- Please.

If you want to eat, come now.

So you make pictures?

With a box?

What do you want pictures of?

Of our valley?

I see.

- And you're really from America?

- Yes.

Are there really Indians there?

Yes.

Have you ever seen one?

Really?

Yes.

How come you speak German?

My mother taught me.

- How did she know our language?

- Luzi, enough.

Don't ask so many questions.

The men, who are they?

The sons...

of Old Brenner.

All six of them?

Brenner calls the shots up here.

But he also takes care of us.

Lukas, you fool. You scared me.

Lukas, we shouldn't.

Luzi, please.

Not until we're married.

Lukas.

I don't even want to think of it.

But I can't help it.

All the time.

I want to work.

Help out.

I won't let you.

- You're our guest.

- He could chop wood.

I mean, if he knows how to.

Not everyone can.

The pictures you take

What kind are they?

Can I see them?

Yes, of course.

- Where is this?

- Texas.

Is that you?

And your mother?

What about your father?

Do you have a picture of him?

No.

He died long ago.

My father is dead, too.

The mountain took him. My brother, too.

During a storm.

You're not doing too bad there.

Pile them up round the side.

I'm going to the village.

Want to come along?

- Hello.

- Hello.

What do you need?

A bag of flour, a bag of oats,

lard, and some white twine.

- Hello.

- Hello.

And some sugar, too.

- How much?

- Two pounds.

And you? What do you need?

Coffee.

It'll take a moment.

And horseshoe nails.

We have a blacksmith...

if you need your horse shoed.

Aren't the women taking care of you?

Hans told you...

to take good care of your guest.

And what Hans wants...

he gets.

Right?

Everything's fine.

Did anyone ask you?

I'll have a schnapps.

And one for him, too.

I don't drink.

All he does is watch.

If I buy you a schnapps,

then you drink it.

Stop.

Leave him alone.

Now look at that.

Now you're taking care of your guest.

Put it on my tab.

They're long here, the winters.

This is no place for you.

When the snow falls, it'll be too late.

You can still leave.

The next few days, he roamed the valley,

that Mr. Greider.

With his box.

But he never talked about

what happened at the inn.

If you're hungry, just let me know.

Thanks.

When is the wedding?

Soon. Before the Feast

of the Immaculate Conception.

Can I ask you something?

Can I have a picture?

Of Lukas and me?

Yes.

But it has to be before the wedding.

Greider kept his promise.

It was when the first snow came,

before it got dark in our valley.

There'll be more snow.

Timber!

When snow started to fall,

they brought down the wood.

It's easier that way.

But it's dangerous work.

All the men in the village pitch in.

Timber!

Even Brenner's sons helped, too.

Timber!

Stop!

Stop!

Timber!

Timber!

I'll go.

Stop!

The death knell.

Take him home.

There's a picture, too.

Luzi is getting it.

I already went to see the priest

for the banns.

He says the wedding is on, nonetheless.

He's already talked to Old Brenner.

What if we go away?

Forever.

What about our folks?

But I want you to be the one.

Don't you think I do, too?

You know I love you.

Then do something.

The next day Rudolf Brenner went hunting...

as he did every year after the first snow,

when hunger forces the game

down into the valley.

Show yourself!

In the village there was talk

that Old Brenner was worried

because Rudolf

had never stayed away so long before.

After three days the Brenner sons

set off to look for him.

Pack me some food.

Only the Brenners

are allowed to carry guns here.

Didn't you know?

Did you bring it from America?

What do you need it for?

They'll come looking for me.

Where is he?

I don't know.

It snowed all night long.

And the snow covered all the traces.

But they knew

he couldn't escape the valley.

In spite of all this, Old Brenner

insisted that the wedding went ahead.

You must always remember

our Lord and Father

every hour of every day.

Do not forget this.

But today let us talk about a father

who wasn't almighty.

Let us remember

the good man, Joseph.

What do you think he felt

when his wife was with child

though he had never lain with her?

He must have been full of rage...

and felt helpless.

If he had chased Mary away,

everyone would have understood.

But he was pious...

and didn't want to bring shame on her.

And so he acquiesced,

knowing that his son

came from a higher being.

Joseph understood

that the Lord

had not imposed a sacrifice upon him,

but had sent him a gift from heaven.

And what did the Holy Mary say about this?

"Even if he uses me

and my womb...

I shall not protest,

for he is one

who knows better than I

what is good and what is right."

Amen.

I want to confess.

Confess?

Now?

In the name of the Father,

and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Amen.

May God,

who has enlightened every heart,

help you to know your sins

and trust in his mercy.

Amen.

I have sinned

against the fifth commandment.

I have killed.

One in the woods,

one man while hunting.

Who are you?

You knew my mother.

What happened back then,

more than 20 years ago,

is still talked about.

One lad took a stand

and wouldn't hand over his bride.

He didn't want Brenner to lie with her...

not only on the wedding night,

but until she fell pregnant...

as he had done

with every woman in the valley.

Her folk were famished

when they arrived in the valley...

like everyone else who came here.

Our people wanted to send them away,

but first they had to ask Old Brenner.

Brenner needed fresh blood...

and he liked what he saw.

That day Brenner told her parents

how things worked up here

when it came to young women...

and that he decided

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