Europe '51 (1952)

Ettore Giannini: Andrea Casatti

Photos 

Quotes 

• Irene Girard : You see how tragic it is. That a gesture or a word that can't be taken back, that could make something go wrong. I caused this death. Oh, I can't stand it anymore.

  Andrea Casatti : No, no Irene. It's useless to say that. What's the good of repeating if I had said this, if I had done that? Things are as they are.

  Irene Girard : Well, then it was destiny. But, why this destiny?

  Andrea Casatti : Now, wait. I said nothing about destiny. What has destined to do with this?

  Irene Girard : Then, if it wasn't destiny, the fault was mine.

  Andrea Casatti : No, Irene. The fault is not yours. If you must blame something, blame this post-war society.

  Irene Girard : What is, what has society got to do with it?

  Andrea Casatti : Well, look, Irene. Think of the boy, just a boy, and the first impression he's received of this world have been puzzling fear, of bombs and war. Who's fault is it?

  Irene Girard : But, why should the child, the children pay for it? It's not just. Then, God isn't just.

• Andrea Casatti : You mustn't shut yourself up alone with your sorrow.

• Andrea Casatti : [Dictating a news story]  We must write it like this - The initiative of the State Department must be considered in relation to the quite obvious intention of Wall Street financiers to, to take the place of England and control the Persian oil fields. The Foreign Office follows this mold of the American Government with suspicion and dismay. That's it.

• Andrea Casatti : With the world rid of those who exploit, there would be justice. We would have a paradise, here, on earth. Real. Material. Wielded, made by man.

  Irene Girard : Perhaps. But, if only everyone would understand that the problem is much deeper than that. More spiritual. Thou shall love thy neighbor as thyself. Only that will bring us close. Closer to one another, as equals. Humble in the same way. For only with love can we find salvation together.

• Andrea Casatti : Belief in a hereafter may be a helpful illusion for the ignorant. But, you, dear Irene, should try to realize, to visualize, this paradise here on earth more concretely. You and I, together...

  Irene Girard : No, Andrea, I'm searching for a different path, the spiritual path. In your paradise here on earth, there is no place for Michele; because, he's no longer alive. The paradise that I dream of, is not only for the living; but, for the departed. Something eternal. And this is my paradise.