The Last Valley
Film Guide
The Last Valley June 2013
© Berkley Center for Religion, Peace, and World Affairs http://berkleycenter.georgetown.edu/resources/classroom
Abstract This film guide serves as a teaching and learning resource for use with the 1971 film The Last Valley, which tells the story of a band of religiously mixed mercenaries who decide to spend the winter in a town thus far unspoiled by the religiously motivated Thirty Years’ War (1618-1648) raging across Europe. Because the film’s setting is historical, it provides an opening for classroom discussion about many complex issues of contemporary relevance, such as just war, religious justifications for violence, religious tools for conflict resolution, and the balance between religious sensitivity and security concerns. This guide focuses on six key scenes that can be shown in the classroom in less than 25 minutes. The guide contains a synopsis of the film, relevant historical context, a set of key terms, discussion questions, and transcripts of key scenes from the film.
About this Film Guide This film guide was crafted under the editorial direction of Eric Patterson, visiting assistant professor in the Department of Government and associate director of the Berkley Center for Religion, Peace, and World Affairs at Georgetown University. This film guide was made possible through the support of the Henry Luce Foundation and the Luce/SFS Program on Religion and International Affairs.
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BERKLEY CENTER FOR RELIGION, PEACE & WORLD AFFAIRS AT GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY
Contents
4 5 6 7 8
Synopsis Historical Context Key Terms Discussion Questions Transcripts of Key Scenes
Citation Title: The Last Valley Original Release: 1971 Run Time: 128 minutes Actors: Michael Caine, Omar Sharif, Florinda Bolkan, Nigel Davenport, Per Oscarsson Directors: James Clavell Writers: James Clavell, J.B. Pick Producers: James Clavell, Martin Baum, Robert Porter Language: English with English, Spanish, and French subtitles DVD Release: 2004 (MGM)
Film Guide — The Last Valley
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The Last Valley (1971)
Synopsis
or defend the establishment of either Protestantism or Roman Catholicism, the boundaries of their dominions, their dynastic claims to power, and their economic interests. The warfare was incredibly destructive, with sectarian massacres in conquered towns in addition to the violence on the many battlefields across Europe. By the war’s end, established in 1648 with the Treaty of Westphalia, Europe had been radically changed from what Catholics had still hoped could be a unified continent under the spiritual leadership of the pope and the temporal leadership of an emperor, to a patchwork of states divided largely along national and religious lines.
A military captain (played by Michael Caine) leads a religiously mixed group of mercenaries who wreak havoc on any city or village in their path. They have two rules: the captain makes the decisions and they are not allowed to discuss religion. Opposite the captain is Vogel (Omar Sharif ), an educated wanderer who has lost everything to the war. The film opens with an emaciated Vogel wandering into a small village trying to purchase food and shelter. Minutes later, the town is pillaged by the captain’s soldiers. Only Vogel escapes, to an idyllic village in a protected valley. However, shortly thereafter the captain and his men arrive at the village as well. Though Catholic-Protestant tensions had been simmering across Europe since the Protestant Reformation Vogel intercedes on behalf of the villagers, suggesting a century earlier, the Thirty Years’ War began in 1618 that the captain and his men stay in this well-provi- when the king of Bohemia—who would later become sioned village for the winter as the rest of Germany is Holy Roman Emperor Ferdinand II—attempted to esdecimated. In return, the captain will protect the vil- tablish Roman Catholicism across his lands and outlaw lage from marauders. The movie moves through a series all other faiths, particularly Protestantism. Protestant of scenes through the winter and the various challenges nobles of Bohemia and Austria rebelled against these faced within the band of mercenaries (e.g. Catholics measures but, after five years of war, Ferdinand emerged versus Protestants) and between the mercenaries and victorious. In 1625, King Christian IV of Denmark, the villagers (e.g. comfort women). There are five key a Lutheran, sought to capture territory in Catholicscenes (III, IV, VII, VIII, XIII) with strong religious controlled Germany. The Holy Roman Empire and a themes, including just war, religion as a cause of con- coalition of Catholic-ruled German kingdoms known flict, and religious tolerance. as the Catholic League crushed the Danish invasion, removing Denmark as a major power of Europe with the Treaty of Lübeck in 1629. At this time, Protestant HIstorical context King Gustav II Adolph of Sweden had succeeded in his war against Catholic Poland and turned his military The Thirty Years’ War (1618-1648) marked a major efforts against Germany, where he brought numerous turning point in European history. It was in reality a princes to his side in his anti-Catholic and anti-impeseries of wars waged by a number of nations for a vari- rial campaign. After having proven its military prowety of motivations, as different rulers sought to expand ess with the conquest of Moscow, Poland agreed to the
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BERKLEY CENTER FOR RELIGION, PEACE & WORLD AFFAIRS AT GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY
1634 Russo-Polish Peace of Polyanov and turned its the primary power in Western Europe. Sweden had sights back to its Baltic nemesis, Sweden, now deeply successfully exerted its control over the Baltic region, involved in Germany. and the United Netherlands had achieved recognition as a fully independent state. However, the most drastic The conflict expanded further over the 1630s and change of all was the granting of sovereignty to the nu1640s. As the epicenter of the Thirty Years’ War, Ger- merous constituent states of the Holy Roman Empire, many played host to many contests for power between leaving the empire little more than a name devoid of Roman Catholicism, Lutheranism, and Calvinism as much significant governing power. Any lingering hope local princes and prelates rushed to bring in foreign of a unified Europe under the spiritual leadership of powers, usually on the basis of a shared faith, to bolster the pope and the temporal leadership of an emperor their power amidst an ever-shifting web of alliances. gave way to the new reality of a patchwork of states On the continental level, the war pitted the Holy Ro- divided largely along national lines—the beginnings of man Empire, ruled by the Catholic and widely power- modern Europe. ful Habsburgs, against a coalition of Protestant towns and principalities assisted by the intervention of the It is worth noting that The Last Valley was written, Europe’s prominent anti-Catholic powers, Sweden filmed, and released during the Vietnam War, a conflict and the United Netherlands, the latter of which had that, at the time of the film’s release, was the longest achieved independence in 1609 after its Eighty Years’ war in which the United States had yet been involved. War against the Catholic Habsburgs of Spain. Com- The Vietnam War was entered into and waged from plicating matters further were the hostilities among the American perspective as a part of the Cold War, Catholic leaders: the Bourbon monarchy of France was a 44-year tense and militarily provocative ideological decidedly anti-Habsburg, going so far as to form an conflict between US capitalism and communism in alliance with Sweden against the Holy Roman Empire the Soviet Union. The United States allied itself with in the 1631 Treaty of Bärwalde. The Habsburgs, mean- capitalist South Vietnam against communist North while, were equally active in arranging various anti- Vietnam, whose primary allies were the Soviet Union French alliances. and communist China. By the time of the release of The Last Valley, American public support for the war Most of the fighting throughout the Thirty Years’ War in Vietnam had dropped significantly as Americans took place in and around the principalities of Germany, increasingly questioned whether the threat posed by a ravaging cities, towns, villages, and farms throughout communist Vietnam, and communism in general, was the region. Because large portions of the various armies grave enough to warrant the massive cost in human involved in the struggles were composed of mercenar- life. ies who were unable to collect payment for their services, the armies plundered the lands through which they marched and around which they fought, amounting to nearly all of Germany over the duration of the war. Drastic suffering ensued throughout Germany as a result of the conflict. By the time the different forces settled for peace in 1648 with the Treaty of Westphalia, the balance of power in Europe had not only shifted, but the geopolitical layout of the continent had changed for good. With Spain having lost the Netherlands and suffered costly wars against France and England, France emerged as
Film Guide — The Last Valley
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Key Terms Identify and discuss the following: Thirty Years’ War
Habsburgs
Treaty of Westphalia
German principalities
Protestant Reformation
Vietnam War
Holy Roman Empire
Discussion Questions 1.
Discuss the background wherein The Last Valley is set—the Thirty Years’ War. Who were the main actors and states and what were they fighting for/against? How did armies conduct themselves, and was their conduct reflective of their faith or suggestive of their dedication to the particular cause they were fighting for? What were the outcomes of the war?
2.
What parallels are there between The Last Valley and the Vietnam War, which was going on during the filming of the movie? Are the themes presented in the film also applicable to modern conflicts such as those in Afghanistan, Iraq, the Middle East, and elsewhere?
3.
Scene VII chronicles the standoff over the local shrine of Our Lady. What are the various arguments for and against moving the shrine? Has the United States, or have you, experienced this balance between security imperatives and local cultural or religious sensitivities in the field? If so, explain.
4.
In Scene VIII, Vogel and the priest argue about the causes of the war. What is the position of each? What assumptions are being made about religion as a driver of conflict? As a resource for peace? How do these arguments apply to religio-cultural violence today in places like Afghanistan, Iraq, and Africa?
5.
Discuss the exchange between the Father and the captain in Scene XIII over “just war.” What was Father Sebastian’s claim about justice and war? What is the captain’s counter-claim? What does each have to say about religion as a driver of conflict?
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BERKLEY CENTER FOR RELIGION, PEACE & WORLD AFFAIRS AT GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY
Transcripts of Key Scenes Scene I Show the class the first half of Scene 1: Vogel encountering Captain: Make your peace with your God. a village seeking food and the village shortly thereafter ransacked by soldiers. The raw savagery of the scene underscores Eskesen: Mercy, Captain. Mercy. the pre-lecture and sets the stage for the rest of the movie. Captain: Our first rule… is no religious quarrels among ourselves. He who breaks it is a dead man. Scene III Eskesen: But what about that, Captain? (pointing to ?: Captain? Let him also be an exception. The exception. Let the church stay, but let him and the Protestants build church) another church. Captain: It stays untouched. ?: Yes, give him quarter. ?: But we burn all churches on raids. That’s your rule. Captain kills Eskesen. Captain: Yes, but this time, we must bend the rule. Catholic or Protestant, it would make no difference. This time, Captain: Let one man escape that rule and we’ll all be we need the peasants to work. That church must be an dead by sundown. You all swore holy oaths to fight as a unit and sell your skill to the winner, whatever their exception. The exception. religion. Protestants may build if they wish without hinEskesen: But it stinks of Satan. It’s the breeding place of drance. Vornez, Geddes, Tub burn him along with the others. We want no plague here. evil. So it will burn. ?: Stop him.
Scene IV
?: Get away, or you’ll join Shutz and Korski.
Soldier faints.
Eskesen: Lord Jesus, help me to strike down thine en- Priest: What has changed that we need soldiers? emies. Papist scum! Villager: The soldiers are here, Father. That’s what has changed. ?: The church stays. Eskesen: Anti-Christ. Devil worshipper.
Priest: Our Lady of the Shrine will rid us of them.
?: Ours is the true faith, by God, you Protestant heretic. Villager: In good time, Father, in good time. Is he unclean? Blasphemer! Eskesen: Death to the anti-Christ.
Soldier who fainted: I have plague?
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100 lashes all provided my men have women of their own. Villager in red dress: Do you think you’d be here, or us watching if you had? Villagers: There are two or three widows who might be prepared to be visited, perhaps— Soldier: You’re sure? Captain: Two or three … Eight. Or perhaps two-dozen Villager in blue dress: You have had a palsy. You’re safe will become widows by sundown. now. Drink some more, it will help you get better. Villager: Four, then. Soldier: I had terrible dreams. Captain: Six, and they had better be worthy and the place Older village woman: You talked in your sleep. You worthy. And you, Father, you will give them public blessseemed to be talking to Holy Father, to God. ing for their penance. Solider: I can’t remember. I dreamed that I was dead.
Father: I obey God’s orders, not your orders.
Villager in red dress: You would have been if it wasn’t Captain: Of course, but why not sell them your holy infor my mother and Erica. They brought you here. We’ve dulgence a total remission for past and future sins, which looked after you for two days. you (pointing to villager) could pay for? Six. Widowed, married, or unmarried. You have two days. Soldier: I feel born again. Thank you. Father: What are you doing here? Villager in red dress: Your clothes are filthy. We’re going Erika: I was treating someone who was sick, Father. You to wash them. said to treat all without favor. Soldier: Why are you so kind to me? Villager: I asked her to see him Father. It was just Christian charity. Erica: Because we think you’re worth caring about. Soldier: Thank you. And the village? All is peaceful? Scene change
Father: Good night, Erica. Thank you. Cap: So the philosopher is risen from the dead.
Hansen: No! We’re soldiers, by God. We take what we want, and to hell with the rest. That’s what we’ve always Father: He was ready to die, he should have died. Why wasn’t I told he was here? done. Captain: The next time you oppose me, Hansen, I will slit Philosopher: Perhaps they didn’t want my soup poisoned. your tongue. The penalty for rape will be public castration. Father: What are you, Lutheran Protestant, Calvin Protestant, blasphemous Anabaptist, heathen Satan worshipper? Father: And for looting? Captain: That’s unimportant. I have all those among my men and worse. I even have Catholics, Father, which Father: Blinding. How else do we protect our homes, if brings me to the shrine near the pass. not by fear? Father: Our Lady of the Shrine has guarded the valley for Captain: Very well. For Catholics, blinding. For the rest, centuries. Captain: What is your pleasure, Father?
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again. Our Lady has protected our valley for centuries. Captain: Many of my men think that shrines are blasphe- We all know that. But that didn’t prevent you from digmous idols that should be torn apart and stamped into ging up the track nor planting forests, nor visiting her shrine by a hundred paths nor hiding when soldiers came oblivion. nor concealing your fowl, and cattle, and horses, nor Father: Touch the shrine and you will burn in hellfire for keeping lookouts at the pass. I am a Catholic, too. I had a dream last night. I dreamed that I was near the shrine and all eternity and your entrails will be eaten with worms. a regiment of soldiers came riding up under a full moon. Captain: The pox on hellfire! That shrine is pointing at There was a sprinkling of snow on the ground. They were huge and evil and they looked towards the shrine. But the village like a finger. as they looked the shrine vanished. So the soldiers went Father: Touch one stone and God will smite you. But be- their way back to Rheinfelden and never came back. By fore that, we will rise up. We will rise up and stamp you hiding herself, Our Lady had hidden the village. I am glad the captain has moved Our Lady of the Shrine. Isn’t that to oblivion. what the dream said to do? You wouldn’t defy a dream, would you? ?: How have you survived so long? Villager: For almost six months of the year, from the first ?: You’re lying. He never had a dream. snows the road is blocked, we are safe. These mountains are cruel, the country stripped bare. Few come this way. Vogel: Go to the shrine. See for yourselves. How he got in, only God knows. Curly-haired soldier: Is he telling the truth, father, about Captain: So where could the shrine be moved to? (Villager the dream? walks away.) Stay here. Vogel? Father: I … I don’t know. Villager: Here, beside the rock. Crowd: Do we go to the shrine? Captain: Good. Very good. Curly: Do we go to the shrine, father? Villager: We keep our lookout up there. Father: Where is there to go? Captain: A lookout is enough if your plan is to hide. We Captain: Pirelli, lead the way. fight for our valley. Curly-haired soldier: Captain, don’t move the shrine. It saved the valley. Captain: A shrine is still a shrine 30 paces off. Soldier: Other villages had mountains and false trails and clever leaders but that didn’t save them. Captain: Other villages had shrines. Scene VII Vogel: Listen, give thanks to Our Lady. She protected us
Scene VIII Vogel: You wanted to see me? Father: Did you really dream that dream? Vogel: What’s real and what isn’t? Once, I thought I knew. Now, I know I don’t. Father: The true church is real. God is real. Satan is real. That we’re all going to die soon and face judgment is real. Before God, did you tell the truth?
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Vogel: Before God, what is the truth? That millions are dead and more will die because the pope wars on the Catholic emperor, who wars on the Catholic king of France, who wars on the Catholic king of Spain, who wars on Catholic Germany, all helped by Protestants. Helped by a hundred other princes, kings, and bishops.
Father: Why join the enemy? You fought for the emperor, you fought a just war.
Captain: You dare to speak to me of enemies and just war? There is no just war. You know it, everyone knows it. The truth is your leaders are bigots, your generals are Father: All for their own rotten purposes. Nothing is sim- bandits, you employ any mercenary you can get, and the ple, nothing except faith in God. You ask questions only pope plays politics. The truth is your war is filth, greed God can answer. and hypocrisy. And the other side is just as rotten. Vogel: God is an excuse that’s used too often.
Father: I will tell you.
Father: You blaspheme. Life exists because of a divine pat- Captain: All sides are rotten, except for people like you. tern. You must have faith and believe or you will cast your Religious fanatics who incite murder for the sake of a God immortal soul into the pit. they have never known. Vogel: Look at your own soul, priest.
Father: The world is, as it is, a fallen world. Men are what they are: sinners. And your mind is sick. It will lead you Father: I do. And I look to those in the valley. All of them. straight to hell. I am the shepherd of this flock. Since you came here, Satan has walked aboard. I feel it. I feel it. I feel it. But soon, Captain: There is no hell, don’t you understand? Don’t Our Lady will give me a sign and then I will know what you understand? Because there is no God. There never to do. Then I will know what to do. was, don’t you understand? There is no God. It’s a legend! Scene XIII Merchant: What I hear, I sift. What I say will happen, happens. He will cross at this bridge. Captain: The bridge is at Rheinfelden. Lead Villager: Rheinfelden? Merchant: I speak frankly, and Bernard is on the move. I was at his camp. Cap: Then history has caught up with us. Our neutrality is over. God and the serpent have joined hands and we are all kicked out of Eden. Villager: We are hidden as we’ve always been. Nothing’s changed. You will defend the village? Captain: It has never been my policy to defend the village. Only myself. Gruf, we will join Prince Bernard. Help him cross the bridge.
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BERKLEY CENTER FOR RELIGION, PEACE & WORLD AFFAIRS AT GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY
The Last Valley June 2013
© Berkley Center for Religion, Peace, and World Affairs http://berkleycenter.georgetown.edu/resources/classroom
Abstract This film guide serves as a teaching and learning resource for use with the 1971 film The Last Valley, which tells the story of a band of religiously mixed mercenaries who decide to spend the winter in a town thus far unspoiled by the religiously motivated Thirty Years’ War (1618-1648) raging across Europe. Because the film’s setting is historical, it provides an opening for classroom discussion about many complex issues of contemporary relevance, such as just war, religious justifications for violence, religious tools for conflict resolution, and the balance between religious sensitivity and security concerns. This guide focuses on six key scenes that can be shown in the classroom in less than 25 minutes. The guide contains a synopsis of the film, relevant historical context, a set of key terms, discussion questions, and transcripts of key scenes from the film.
About this Film Guide This film guide was crafted under the editorial direction of Eric Patterson, visiting assistant professor in the Department of Government and associate director of the Berkley Center for Religion, Peace, and World Affairs at Georgetown University. This film guide was made possible through the support of the Henry Luce Foundation and the Luce/SFS Program on Religion and International Affairs.
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BERKLEY CENTER FOR RELIGION, PEACE & WORLD AFFAIRS AT GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY
Contents
4 5 6 7 8
Synopsis Historical Context Key Terms Discussion Questions Transcripts of Key Scenes
Citation Title: The Last Valley Original Release: 1971 Run Time: 128 minutes Actors: Michael Caine, Omar Sharif, Florinda Bolkan, Nigel Davenport, Per Oscarsson Directors: James Clavell Writers: James Clavell, J.B. Pick Producers: James Clavell, Martin Baum, Robert Porter Language: English with English, Spanish, and French subtitles DVD Release: 2004 (MGM)
Film Guide — The Last Valley
3
The Last Valley (1971)
Synopsis
or defend the establishment of either Protestantism or Roman Catholicism, the boundaries of their dominions, their dynastic claims to power, and their economic interests. The warfare was incredibly destructive, with sectarian massacres in conquered towns in addition to the violence on the many battlefields across Europe. By the war’s end, established in 1648 with the Treaty of Westphalia, Europe had been radically changed from what Catholics had still hoped could be a unified continent under the spiritual leadership of the pope and the temporal leadership of an emperor, to a patchwork of states divided largely along national and religious lines.
A military captain (played by Michael Caine) leads a religiously mixed group of mercenaries who wreak havoc on any city or village in their path. They have two rules: the captain makes the decisions and they are not allowed to discuss religion. Opposite the captain is Vogel (Omar Sharif ), an educated wanderer who has lost everything to the war. The film opens with an emaciated Vogel wandering into a small village trying to purchase food and shelter. Minutes later, the town is pillaged by the captain’s soldiers. Only Vogel escapes, to an idyllic village in a protected valley. However, shortly thereafter the captain and his men arrive at the village as well. Though Catholic-Protestant tensions had been simmering across Europe since the Protestant Reformation Vogel intercedes on behalf of the villagers, suggesting a century earlier, the Thirty Years’ War began in 1618 that the captain and his men stay in this well-provi- when the king of Bohemia—who would later become sioned village for the winter as the rest of Germany is Holy Roman Emperor Ferdinand II—attempted to esdecimated. In return, the captain will protect the vil- tablish Roman Catholicism across his lands and outlaw lage from marauders. The movie moves through a series all other faiths, particularly Protestantism. Protestant of scenes through the winter and the various challenges nobles of Bohemia and Austria rebelled against these faced within the band of mercenaries (e.g. Catholics measures but, after five years of war, Ferdinand emerged versus Protestants) and between the mercenaries and victorious. In 1625, King Christian IV of Denmark, the villagers (e.g. comfort women). There are five key a Lutheran, sought to capture territory in Catholicscenes (III, IV, VII, VIII, XIII) with strong religious controlled Germany. The Holy Roman Empire and a themes, including just war, religion as a cause of con- coalition of Catholic-ruled German kingdoms known flict, and religious tolerance. as the Catholic League crushed the Danish invasion, removing Denmark as a major power of Europe with the Treaty of Lübeck in 1629. At this time, Protestant HIstorical context King Gustav II Adolph of Sweden had succeeded in his war against Catholic Poland and turned his military The Thirty Years’ War (1618-1648) marked a major efforts against Germany, where he brought numerous turning point in European history. It was in reality a princes to his side in his anti-Catholic and anti-impeseries of wars waged by a number of nations for a vari- rial campaign. After having proven its military prowety of motivations, as different rulers sought to expand ess with the conquest of Moscow, Poland agreed to the
4
BERKLEY CENTER FOR RELIGION, PEACE & WORLD AFFAIRS AT GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY
1634 Russo-Polish Peace of Polyanov and turned its the primary power in Western Europe. Sweden had sights back to its Baltic nemesis, Sweden, now deeply successfully exerted its control over the Baltic region, involved in Germany. and the United Netherlands had achieved recognition as a fully independent state. However, the most drastic The conflict expanded further over the 1630s and change of all was the granting of sovereignty to the nu1640s. As the epicenter of the Thirty Years’ War, Ger- merous constituent states of the Holy Roman Empire, many played host to many contests for power between leaving the empire little more than a name devoid of Roman Catholicism, Lutheranism, and Calvinism as much significant governing power. Any lingering hope local princes and prelates rushed to bring in foreign of a unified Europe under the spiritual leadership of powers, usually on the basis of a shared faith, to bolster the pope and the temporal leadership of an emperor their power amidst an ever-shifting web of alliances. gave way to the new reality of a patchwork of states On the continental level, the war pitted the Holy Ro- divided largely along national lines—the beginnings of man Empire, ruled by the Catholic and widely power- modern Europe. ful Habsburgs, against a coalition of Protestant towns and principalities assisted by the intervention of the It is worth noting that The Last Valley was written, Europe’s prominent anti-Catholic powers, Sweden filmed, and released during the Vietnam War, a conflict and the United Netherlands, the latter of which had that, at the time of the film’s release, was the longest achieved independence in 1609 after its Eighty Years’ war in which the United States had yet been involved. War against the Catholic Habsburgs of Spain. Com- The Vietnam War was entered into and waged from plicating matters further were the hostilities among the American perspective as a part of the Cold War, Catholic leaders: the Bourbon monarchy of France was a 44-year tense and militarily provocative ideological decidedly anti-Habsburg, going so far as to form an conflict between US capitalism and communism in alliance with Sweden against the Holy Roman Empire the Soviet Union. The United States allied itself with in the 1631 Treaty of Bärwalde. The Habsburgs, mean- capitalist South Vietnam against communist North while, were equally active in arranging various anti- Vietnam, whose primary allies were the Soviet Union French alliances. and communist China. By the time of the release of The Last Valley, American public support for the war Most of the fighting throughout the Thirty Years’ War in Vietnam had dropped significantly as Americans took place in and around the principalities of Germany, increasingly questioned whether the threat posed by a ravaging cities, towns, villages, and farms throughout communist Vietnam, and communism in general, was the region. Because large portions of the various armies grave enough to warrant the massive cost in human involved in the struggles were composed of mercenar- life. ies who were unable to collect payment for their services, the armies plundered the lands through which they marched and around which they fought, amounting to nearly all of Germany over the duration of the war. Drastic suffering ensued throughout Germany as a result of the conflict. By the time the different forces settled for peace in 1648 with the Treaty of Westphalia, the balance of power in Europe had not only shifted, but the geopolitical layout of the continent had changed for good. With Spain having lost the Netherlands and suffered costly wars against France and England, France emerged as
Film Guide — The Last Valley
5
Key Terms Identify and discuss the following: Thirty Years’ War
Habsburgs
Treaty of Westphalia
German principalities
Protestant Reformation
Vietnam War
Holy Roman Empire
Discussion Questions 1.
Discuss the background wherein The Last Valley is set—the Thirty Years’ War. Who were the main actors and states and what were they fighting for/against? How did armies conduct themselves, and was their conduct reflective of their faith or suggestive of their dedication to the particular cause they were fighting for? What were the outcomes of the war?
2.
What parallels are there between The Last Valley and the Vietnam War, which was going on during the filming of the movie? Are the themes presented in the film also applicable to modern conflicts such as those in Afghanistan, Iraq, the Middle East, and elsewhere?
3.
Scene VII chronicles the standoff over the local shrine of Our Lady. What are the various arguments for and against moving the shrine? Has the United States, or have you, experienced this balance between security imperatives and local cultural or religious sensitivities in the field? If so, explain.
4.
In Scene VIII, Vogel and the priest argue about the causes of the war. What is the position of each? What assumptions are being made about religion as a driver of conflict? As a resource for peace? How do these arguments apply to religio-cultural violence today in places like Afghanistan, Iraq, and Africa?
5.
Discuss the exchange between the Father and the captain in Scene XIII over “just war.” What was Father Sebastian’s claim about justice and war? What is the captain’s counter-claim? What does each have to say about religion as a driver of conflict?
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BERKLEY CENTER FOR RELIGION, PEACE & WORLD AFFAIRS AT GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY
Transcripts of Key Scenes Scene I Show the class the first half of Scene 1: Vogel encountering Captain: Make your peace with your God. a village seeking food and the village shortly thereafter ransacked by soldiers. The raw savagery of the scene underscores Eskesen: Mercy, Captain. Mercy. the pre-lecture and sets the stage for the rest of the movie. Captain: Our first rule… is no religious quarrels among ourselves. He who breaks it is a dead man. Scene III Eskesen: But what about that, Captain? (pointing to ?: Captain? Let him also be an exception. The exception. Let the church stay, but let him and the Protestants build church) another church. Captain: It stays untouched. ?: Yes, give him quarter. ?: But we burn all churches on raids. That’s your rule. Captain kills Eskesen. Captain: Yes, but this time, we must bend the rule. Catholic or Protestant, it would make no difference. This time, Captain: Let one man escape that rule and we’ll all be we need the peasants to work. That church must be an dead by sundown. You all swore holy oaths to fight as a unit and sell your skill to the winner, whatever their exception. The exception. religion. Protestants may build if they wish without hinEskesen: But it stinks of Satan. It’s the breeding place of drance. Vornez, Geddes, Tub burn him along with the others. We want no plague here. evil. So it will burn. ?: Stop him.
Scene IV
?: Get away, or you’ll join Shutz and Korski.
Soldier faints.
Eskesen: Lord Jesus, help me to strike down thine en- Priest: What has changed that we need soldiers? emies. Papist scum! Villager: The soldiers are here, Father. That’s what has changed. ?: The church stays. Eskesen: Anti-Christ. Devil worshipper.
Priest: Our Lady of the Shrine will rid us of them.
?: Ours is the true faith, by God, you Protestant heretic. Villager: In good time, Father, in good time. Is he unclean? Blasphemer! Eskesen: Death to the anti-Christ.
Soldier who fainted: I have plague?
Film Guide — The Last Valley
7
100 lashes all provided my men have women of their own. Villager in red dress: Do you think you’d be here, or us watching if you had? Villagers: There are two or three widows who might be prepared to be visited, perhaps— Soldier: You’re sure? Captain: Two or three … Eight. Or perhaps two-dozen Villager in blue dress: You have had a palsy. You’re safe will become widows by sundown. now. Drink some more, it will help you get better. Villager: Four, then. Soldier: I had terrible dreams. Captain: Six, and they had better be worthy and the place Older village woman: You talked in your sleep. You worthy. And you, Father, you will give them public blessseemed to be talking to Holy Father, to God. ing for their penance. Solider: I can’t remember. I dreamed that I was dead.
Father: I obey God’s orders, not your orders.
Villager in red dress: You would have been if it wasn’t Captain: Of course, but why not sell them your holy infor my mother and Erica. They brought you here. We’ve dulgence a total remission for past and future sins, which looked after you for two days. you (pointing to villager) could pay for? Six. Widowed, married, or unmarried. You have two days. Soldier: I feel born again. Thank you. Father: What are you doing here? Villager in red dress: Your clothes are filthy. We’re going Erika: I was treating someone who was sick, Father. You to wash them. said to treat all without favor. Soldier: Why are you so kind to me? Villager: I asked her to see him Father. It was just Christian charity. Erica: Because we think you’re worth caring about. Soldier: Thank you. And the village? All is peaceful? Scene change
Father: Good night, Erica. Thank you. Cap: So the philosopher is risen from the dead.
Hansen: No! We’re soldiers, by God. We take what we want, and to hell with the rest. That’s what we’ve always Father: He was ready to die, he should have died. Why wasn’t I told he was here? done. Captain: The next time you oppose me, Hansen, I will slit Philosopher: Perhaps they didn’t want my soup poisoned. your tongue. The penalty for rape will be public castration. Father: What are you, Lutheran Protestant, Calvin Protestant, blasphemous Anabaptist, heathen Satan worshipper? Father: And for looting? Captain: That’s unimportant. I have all those among my men and worse. I even have Catholics, Father, which Father: Blinding. How else do we protect our homes, if brings me to the shrine near the pass. not by fear? Father: Our Lady of the Shrine has guarded the valley for Captain: Very well. For Catholics, blinding. For the rest, centuries. Captain: What is your pleasure, Father?
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again. Our Lady has protected our valley for centuries. Captain: Many of my men think that shrines are blasphe- We all know that. But that didn’t prevent you from digmous idols that should be torn apart and stamped into ging up the track nor planting forests, nor visiting her shrine by a hundred paths nor hiding when soldiers came oblivion. nor concealing your fowl, and cattle, and horses, nor Father: Touch the shrine and you will burn in hellfire for keeping lookouts at the pass. I am a Catholic, too. I had a dream last night. I dreamed that I was near the shrine and all eternity and your entrails will be eaten with worms. a regiment of soldiers came riding up under a full moon. Captain: The pox on hellfire! That shrine is pointing at There was a sprinkling of snow on the ground. They were huge and evil and they looked towards the shrine. But the village like a finger. as they looked the shrine vanished. So the soldiers went Father: Touch one stone and God will smite you. But be- their way back to Rheinfelden and never came back. By fore that, we will rise up. We will rise up and stamp you hiding herself, Our Lady had hidden the village. I am glad the captain has moved Our Lady of the Shrine. Isn’t that to oblivion. what the dream said to do? You wouldn’t defy a dream, would you? ?: How have you survived so long? Villager: For almost six months of the year, from the first ?: You’re lying. He never had a dream. snows the road is blocked, we are safe. These mountains are cruel, the country stripped bare. Few come this way. Vogel: Go to the shrine. See for yourselves. How he got in, only God knows. Curly-haired soldier: Is he telling the truth, father, about Captain: So where could the shrine be moved to? (Villager the dream? walks away.) Stay here. Vogel? Father: I … I don’t know. Villager: Here, beside the rock. Crowd: Do we go to the shrine? Captain: Good. Very good. Curly: Do we go to the shrine, father? Villager: We keep our lookout up there. Father: Where is there to go? Captain: A lookout is enough if your plan is to hide. We Captain: Pirelli, lead the way. fight for our valley. Curly-haired soldier: Captain, don’t move the shrine. It saved the valley. Captain: A shrine is still a shrine 30 paces off. Soldier: Other villages had mountains and false trails and clever leaders but that didn’t save them. Captain: Other villages had shrines. Scene VII Vogel: Listen, give thanks to Our Lady. She protected us
Scene VIII Vogel: You wanted to see me? Father: Did you really dream that dream? Vogel: What’s real and what isn’t? Once, I thought I knew. Now, I know I don’t. Father: The true church is real. God is real. Satan is real. That we’re all going to die soon and face judgment is real. Before God, did you tell the truth?
Film Guide — The Last Valley
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Vogel: Before God, what is the truth? That millions are dead and more will die because the pope wars on the Catholic emperor, who wars on the Catholic king of France, who wars on the Catholic king of Spain, who wars on Catholic Germany, all helped by Protestants. Helped by a hundred other princes, kings, and bishops.
Father: Why join the enemy? You fought for the emperor, you fought a just war.
Captain: You dare to speak to me of enemies and just war? There is no just war. You know it, everyone knows it. The truth is your leaders are bigots, your generals are Father: All for their own rotten purposes. Nothing is sim- bandits, you employ any mercenary you can get, and the ple, nothing except faith in God. You ask questions only pope plays politics. The truth is your war is filth, greed God can answer. and hypocrisy. And the other side is just as rotten. Vogel: God is an excuse that’s used too often.
Father: I will tell you.
Father: You blaspheme. Life exists because of a divine pat- Captain: All sides are rotten, except for people like you. tern. You must have faith and believe or you will cast your Religious fanatics who incite murder for the sake of a God immortal soul into the pit. they have never known. Vogel: Look at your own soul, priest.
Father: The world is, as it is, a fallen world. Men are what they are: sinners. And your mind is sick. It will lead you Father: I do. And I look to those in the valley. All of them. straight to hell. I am the shepherd of this flock. Since you came here, Satan has walked aboard. I feel it. I feel it. I feel it. But soon, Captain: There is no hell, don’t you understand? Don’t Our Lady will give me a sign and then I will know what you understand? Because there is no God. There never to do. Then I will know what to do. was, don’t you understand? There is no God. It’s a legend! Scene XIII Merchant: What I hear, I sift. What I say will happen, happens. He will cross at this bridge. Captain: The bridge is at Rheinfelden. Lead Villager: Rheinfelden? Merchant: I speak frankly, and Bernard is on the move. I was at his camp. Cap: Then history has caught up with us. Our neutrality is over. God and the serpent have joined hands and we are all kicked out of Eden. Villager: We are hidden as we’ve always been. Nothing’s changed. You will defend the village? Captain: It has never been my policy to defend the village. Only myself. Gruf, we will join Prince Bernard. Help him cross the bridge.
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