Fitzcarraldo (1982)

Dieter Milz: Young Missionary

Quotes 

• Brian Sweeney Fitzgerald - 'Fitzcarraldo' : How can anyone learn patriotism from a school book?

  Young Missionary : The Government requires it.

  Old Missionary : The natives get used to it. Like vaccination.

  Young Missionary : The children already feel like little Peruvians. The other day I asked them, "Are you Indians?" "No," they said, "not we, the ones up the river, they are Indians." And then I asked. "What are Indians?" "They said to me "Indians are people who can't read and who don't know how to wash their clothes."

  Brian Sweeney Fitzgerald - 'Fitzcarraldo' : And what about the older people?

  Old Missionary : Well, we can't seem to cure them of the idea that our everyday life is only an illusion, behind which lies the reality of dreams.

  Brian Sweeney Fitzgerald - 'Fitzcarraldo' : Actually, I'm very interested in these ideas. I specialise in opera myself.

• Captain (Orinoco Paul) : What do you know about the Jivaros on the upper course? I was there during the disaster of '96. Have you had any contact since then?

  Young Missionary : Yes, some years ago. Two of our brothers set off with some natives. One of them came back a few days later and said that the Jivaros had withdrawn into the forest. The expedition vanished without a trace. Then, a few weeks later, one of the brothers was washed up. He was already rotting away and his head was gone. Anyway, what do you want up there?

  Brian Sweeney Fitzgerald - 'Fitzcarraldo' : I'm planning something geographical.