A FILM BY JERZY KAWALEROWICZ
CO-PRODUCERS
SPONSORS
SCREENPLAY BY JERZY KAWALEROWICZ
BASED ON THE NOVEL BY HENRYK SIENKIEWICZ
Marcus Vinicius
Lygia
Petronius
Nero
Chilo the Greek
WITH
MAKE UP
COSTUMES
SOUND
EDITED BY
INTERIOR DESIGN
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR
PRODUCTION MANAGER
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER
MUSIC
PRODUCTION DESIGNER
PHOTOGRAPHY
PRODUCER
DIRECTED BY
During 60 A.D., the Roman Empire spread from North Africa, embracing
Mediterranean, until the tip of Brittany. The Northern region included the Rhine
and the Danube Rivers from which Lygians thrived.
Thirty years prior, Jesus Christ was crucified
Christianity was gaining steady momentum
in addition to a growing number of followers.
Nero was the current ruler of the Roman Empire
He was described as being despotic and arrogant.
In addition, Nero also sought recognition for his attempts at art
His good friend, Petronius, was a known poet, and a fashion trend-setter.
Vinicius is in love with Lygia and want to have her
being a Christian, she doesn't accept him
with Chilo's help, Vinicius tries to find Lygia take her
Mark...don't kill
wounded, he stays with the Christians under Lygia's care
he changes his views on life under Lygia influence
his uncle finds love in Eunice, his former slave
I was seeking far, what was close
Vinicius is baptised by Peter the Apostle
who blesses Lygia and Vinicius' tie
after the tragic fire, Nero blames the Christians
Chilo the Greek cheats everyone and exposes the followers of Christianity
Lygia stays in the prison, Vinicius, disappointed, cannot free her
Nero calls for a prosecution of all Christians
Lygia isn't among those destined to die
PART 6
My lord, go away, I cannot let you in.
- May the gods comfort you. - Let me stay.
- I want to see who'll be burned. - This is not against my orders.
Glaucus!
Glaucus...
In the name of Christ...
Forgive me!
I forgive you!
People...
People!
People of Rome!
I swear upon my own grave, the innocent are dying!
And here is the one who set Rome on fire!
Nero the arsonist!
Down with the tyrant!
Who is it?
Paul of Tarsus.
- I am damned! What do you want? - To save you.
There's no salvation for me!
Christ forgave the thief.
There's no forgiveness for me!
Oh Lord,
look upon this miserable man, see his pain, tears and suffering.
In the name of your martyrdom, death and resurrection,
forgive him.
Chilo...
I baptise thee,
in the name of the Father,
the Son
and the Holy Ghost.
Christ...
You have offended Caesar.
You will be punished by death.
But if you declare tomorrow, in the Amphitheatre,
that wine made you insane,
and that the Christians set Rome on fire,
perhaps you will get away with flagellation and exile.
- I cannot do this. - What do you mean?
You were drunk.
I cannot, my lord.
You've seen Christians die.
Do you want such an end?
I believe... in Christ.
Indeed you are a madman.
And now deny all.
I cannot.
You can!
Will you take all back, Greek mongrel?
I cannot.
Pull his tongue out.
I feel I haven't lived yet, and shall be reborn in Greece.
You shall be reborn for new fame and immortality.
- The ships are waiting in Neapolis. - I'd love to leave tomorrow.
Divinity, let me first invite you to a wedding feast.
A wedding feast? Whose?
Vinicius' and Lygia's.
You ordered him to marry,
and your divine commands are irreversible.
Release her from prison.
Yes, I know...
I've been thinking of her and of her giant.
- They are both saved, then. - However
she was arrested on Caesar's orders.
And his orders are, as you've put it, irreversible.
She was arrested because of your ignorance. Against Caesar's will.
You are naive, Tigellinus, but you won't accuse her
of the fire. Even if you claimed so,
Caesar wouldn't believe you.
Petronius is right.
The prison gates will open tomorrow.
And we shall discuss the feast in the Amphitheatre.
You're not well. Go back home.
Lygia...Christ!
Christ!
Sit.
Watch!
Do not give in.
We have praetorians.
You have to take her to Sicily.
Tigellinus might try
- to poison her, just to spite me. - Christ has saved
Offer Him a hundred oxen. Gods hate repeating themselves.
When she gets well, I'll take her to Pomponia's house.
Take her and leave Rome!
Where am I?
In Petronius' house.
Christ has given you back to me.
she needs peace now
she will sleep and return to health
Nero is furious.
He ordered Peter and Paul to be killed,
praetorians are on their way. Warn the apostles.
Stay with her.
Rabbi, flee from Rome.
Do not let the living truth perish with you.
Flee, in the name of Christ.
Do not let the beast triumph.
and those who's hearts fail will ask who is above Nero
Nazarius will lead you out of Rome.
In Antium there is a ship waiting to take Lygia and I away
a good day will be the day that you come to my home
Hallowed be the Lord's name
and let His will be done.
Caesar requests that you die
you made me do all this
from your letters, we know what is happening in Rome
we have peace and fortune
from the balcony, I could see Ursus fishing
next to me, Lygia is weaving wool
you write that Lygia is my good happiness, yes because I love her soul
in this tie, there is no cheating, no death, no aging
You are doomed.
Caesar listened to Tigellinus.
A messenger will bring you the death sentence.
Thank your master for this message.
Eunice...Eunice,
Do you know
- that you are no longer a slave? - But I am, and always will be.
But you don't know this villa, all its furnishings
and slaves and fields and herds are from now on your property.
Why are you telling me this?
Eunice, I want to die peacefully.
- I am listening to you, master. - Vinicius
and Lygia are on Sicily now.
I've written back saying
I won't be able to join them,
but that I wish Sicily becomes their Hesperian Garden...
and the columns of their house give shelter to white doves.
My friends, forgive me,
I've shaken some wine out in honour of the goddess.
Let no other lips touch the bowl
Senility and helplessness are sad companions of old age.
Why wait?
- We can leave before they come. - Master!
- What do you want to do? - I want to be merry,
to enjoy music and wine,
and sleep.
- Petronius - don't do it
My lord,
did you think I'd abandon you?
I have
bid Nero adieu. Listen to what I wrote to him.
"Caesar, I know your heart misses me"
"day in and day out."
"But there are things I can't bear any longer."
"I wasn't shocked by the fact that you'd killed your relatives,"
"that you'd burned Rome,"
"and sent the worthiest citizens to Erebus."
death is destined for humans
but hurting my ears with you singing
seeing those thin legs of yours dancing
hearing your mediocre poems
no...no...no
I can't embarrass myself for you any longer
"Here is my last piece of advice:"
"Kill, but do not sing. Poison, but do not dance."
"Ignite,"
"but put away the cithara."
"Those are the wishes of your arbiter of elegance."
You needn't boast about having listened to this letter. Rejoice.
Friends...
you'll agree that our deaths...
mark the end of...
He also conspired against me! He should be crucified!
Kill half of the revolting legions! Have Galba dragged here!
Have all the Galls executed! Burn this cursed city once again!
This will not change anything.
The legions have already, declared Galba as their Caesar.
That's a lie!
You are all against me! It is for the Senate to decide.
They must hear me out. And if I spoke to them
in mourning? Would they resist my tears?
The Senate has sentenced. You are to be executed
- in the ancient fashion. - What fashion is that?
They'll pierce you with a fork flog to death, and cast into the Tiber.
You must flee, my lord.
Time is running short.
Hide in my villa at the outskirts, between Via Solaria and Nometana.
Flee, my lord.
Galba! Galba!
Follow me, my lord.
They've seen us. They know where we are.
- You're doomed. - Sooner or later they'll find us.
- Don't die like a villain, divinity. - Dig my grave here.
My mother, my wife and my father are summoning me to die. Dig!
What an artist perishes...
The time hasn't come yet.
No, no, no.
- Don't let them humiliate you. - The time hasn't come yet!
Spare yourself the humiliation!
They are coming for you. Hasten!
I have never been so happy in my life.
I used to think
love is only lust,
now I see one can love and be so peaceful.
No, Lygia.
I am the one who worships you.
I love you, Marcus.
Do you see that light coming towards us?
I cannot see anything.
Rabbi? What is it?
Oh Christ!
Christ!
Quo vadis, Domine?
You're abandoning my people, so l am going to Rome,
to be crucified once again.
Quo vadis, domine?
We are going back to Rome.
END OF THE SERIES
WRITTEN AND DIRECTED BY JERZY KAWALEROWICZ