Bread and Tulips, Pane e Tulipani, is my favorite movie of all time, right up there with The Sound of Music and The Matrix. I’ve watched it so many times that when I ran into Giselda Volodi (she played the owner of the Pensione) on the streets of Venice last summer I was ridiculously excited and tongue-tied.
I made a fool of myself, babbling about who knows what, when I wanted to tell her: You’re in my favorite movie of all time! I’ve watched it a bazillion times and I know all your lines in the movie (“c’è un cinese dietro l’angolo). Oppure el Marco Polo, appena che ven fora (esce) a sinistra, la seconda a destra.”); I know everybody’s lines in the movie!
And here are some good ones. They’re all good, but these are just a few. If you haven’t seen the movie, watch it before you read these; I don’t want to spoil anything. You can find Pane i Tulipani everywhere – on Amazon, itunes, and Netflix.
Rosalba calls Mimmo from the pensione
Rosalba: Ciao, Mimmo, it’s me.
Mimmo: Alba, where are you? What happened?
Rosalba: Nothing, everything’s fine. Calm down.
Mimmo: Calm down? Where the hell are you?
Rosalba: C’mon Mimmo. There’s nothing to get angry about. I’ll see you tomorrow night at home.
Mimmo: What do you mean at home? Are you crazy?
Cut it out with that thing (to his son with the video camera.)
We looked for you for 2 hours at that @#$&ing rest stop! We even called the police! And you’re telling me to calm down……….Hello?
Rosalba’s first meal at the Ristorante Marco Polo
Fernando: It’s my duty to inform you that the cook had an attack of appendicitis.
Rosalba: Poor thing!
Fernando: We find ourselves in the unpleasant situation to be able to only offer you cold plates.
Rosalba:OK, a cold plate will be fine.
Fernando: Have a seat.
Rosalba: Thanks.
Fernando: I hope you’ll enjoy this.
Rosalba: It’ll be better than Chinese.
Fernando: I’m sorry to contradict you ma’am, but the Chinese are the greatest restaurateurs in the world.
Rosalba, her first night at Fernando’s place.
Rosalba: You’re not Italian?
Fernando: No, I come from Iceland.
Rosalba: Reykjavik!
Fernando: Nearby.
Rosalba: When I was young I knew all the world capitols by heart. Afterwards my grandpa would always give 100 lire.
Fernando: I’m delighted.
Rosalba meets Fermo
Fermo: Anybody ever tell you that you look like Vera Zasulic?
Rosalba: No, who is she?
Fermo: She’s a libertarian. She pulled out a gun from under her coat, pointed it at Trepov, the governor of St. Petersburg, and she shot him.
Rosalba: (alarmed) When did all this happen?
Fermo: January 24, 1878.
Rosalba: Ah!
The first time Alba met Grazia
Grazia: Oh my God, you’re soaking wet, I’m sorry! What can I do? I know, I’ll get you a vodka!
Constantino e Grazia
Constantino: I’ve just spent the most beautiful moments of my life with you. I knew that you were out there somewhere, but I didn’t know where. Now I’ve found you and I finally know happiness, You have to believe me, I’m begging you.
Grazia: But how can I believe you after all that’s happened?
Costantino: Give me the cell phone, It’s there. Thanks. (He dials Mimmo’s number).
Mr. Barletta? No, I don’t know what time it is. I made a mistake. That woman wasn’t your wife. She doesn’t work at a florist shop and she doesn’t play the accordion either. Yes, I’m crazy. You’d better hire someone else.
(He hands them the phone) Throw it away, please.
Fernando claims Rosalba
Rosalba: This is my son, Nicola. Nicola, this is Fernando.
Fernando: I realize that this situation appears bizarre, never-the-less I have come to reclaim your mother.
Nic: Why?
Fernando: Because I love her.
I Love Italian Everything 